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THE SECOND WAR 



WITH 



ENGLAND 



BY J. T. HEADLEY, 



▲TTTDOB OF " NAPOLEON AJiV UIS MAKSHALfi," "•WASHINGTON AND UI8 GKNHBAIA, 
"TITE old GUAEI)," **6C0TT AND JACKPON* KTa ETC. 



IN TWO VOLUMES. 



YOL. I. f<- ^^\ ^.o/ 



FOUETH THOUSAND. ^- 



NEW YOEK : 

CHARLES SCRIBNER, 145 NASSAU STREET. 
1853. 






Entered, accordini; to Act of Consress, in the year 1S68, by 

C IIAELK3 SCRIBNER, 

In the Clerk's Office of the Di'^trict Court of the United SUtea for the Sonthern 

District of New York, 



C. W. BENEDICT, 

Stebeotyper and PEi^mi, 

12 Spruce Street, N. Y 



THE SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 



PREFACE. 



More books, probably, have been written on the War of 
1812 than on any other portion of our history. The great. 
poHtical leaders of that time were so vindictive in their animo- 
sities, and took such strong and decided ground on all poli- 
tical questions, that the success of one or the other after- 
wards in public life depended very much on his conduct 
during the war. Hence, much detached and personal 
history has been written in order to clear up or illustrate 
some particular event. A candidate for public office was 
often chosen for his services in the war ; hence, every portion 
of it in which he took part was thoroughly investigated by 
both friends and foes. So if one had failed* in that trying 
period of the country, the world was sure to hear of it when 
he came up for the suffrages of the people. The war proved 
very unfortunate for some of the leaders, and court martials 
and disgrace closed the career of many which had hitherto 
been bright and prosperous. These men have written long 
pamphlets and books in self-defence, or they have been written 



VI PREFACE. 

by their descendants, so that if hearing both sides would aid 
the reader in coming to a correct conclusion, he was pretty 
sure to reach it. When so many quarrels are to be settled the 
public will not fail to be informed all about the origin of them. 
Another class of works have b(*en written, designed only to 
furnish a synopsis of the war, and scarcely reach to the value 
of histories. Others have been confined solely to the military and 
naval movements — others still are devoted almost exclusively 
to political matters of that period ; so that notwithstanding the 
large supply of works on the War of 1812, I know of none in 
which all these difFei'ent topics are even attempted to be com- 
bined in proper proportions. The present work is an effort 
to accomplish that end without being too voluminous on the 
one hand, or too general on the other. I have endeavored to 
give impressions as well as facts — to trace the current and 
depict the phases of public feeling, rather than inflict on the 
reader long documents and longer debates, in which everything 
that gave them life and interest was carefully excluded by the 
reporter. 

The eflfects of the fierce conflict waged between the Federalists 
and Democrats during the war have not yet passed away, 
and many of the actors in it are still living, who retain their 
old prejudices and hatred. Their near descendants and rela- 
tives, though so many of them are found in the ranks of 
democracy, still defend the memory of those whose names they 
bear, and endeavor to throw discredit on the writer who 
would rob them of reputation, and consign them to the 
obloquy they deserve. In a war like the late one with Mexico, 
where almost every officer was a hero, and in narrating the 
progress of which the historian is called upon only to eulogize, 



PREFACK. VU 

his task is an easy one. But in one like that of 1812, in 
which the most conspicuous leaders met with signal defeat 
and disgrace, and instead of winning reputation, lost that which 
had illustrated them in the revolutionary struggle, the historian 
necessarily recalls feuds and assails character, which is sure to 
bring down on him the maledictions and open condemnation of 
friends and relations. A noble man and true patriot, like 
General Dearborn, will never want friends who will deny 
his incompetency as commander-in-chief, while one who had 
won so brave a name in the revolution, and was so estimable 
a man in social life as General Hull, must always be defended 
by those in whose veins his blood flows. The inefficiency and 
blunders of the government remain to this day to many a 
sufficient apology for the conduct of Wilkinson, Hampton and 
others. 

Having no animosities to gratify, and no prejudices to favor, 
I have set down nought in malice, but have endeavored to 
ascertain, amid conflicting testimony, the exact truth, without 
regarding the friendly or hostile feelings the declaration of it 
might awaken. In many cases I have withheld much that 
was personal, because it was not necessary to my purpose, and 
useless only in self-defence. That I should reconcile difficulties 
which have never yet been healed, and please rivals who have 
ever hated each other, was not to be expected. I have 
attempted also to give a clear impression of the political and 
social feelings of the times, and make the reader, as far as lay 
in my power, live amid the scenes I depict. 

Two new features have been introduced into the present 
work, which I though necessary to a complete history of the 
war, viz., privateering and the Dartmoor Piison. 



Viii PREFACE. 

It would be impossible to give all the authorities to which 
I am indebted. State papers, records, journals, Gazettes ot 
the time have been consulted, as well as histories, while I 
have earnestly sought for information from the survivors of 
the war. In many cases I have omitted references to books 
in which facts I state are found recorded, because I came 
across them in old pamphlets, letters, and newspaper para- 
graphs, where, probably, the original compiler also obtained 
them. I cannot omit, however, acknowledging the vast aid 
I have derived from Niles' Register. A more valuable peri- 
odical was never published in this country, IngersoU's 
History also, though very deficient in arrangement, con- 
tains more valuable material than any other work embracing 
the same period. 



CONTENTS OF VOL. I 



CHAPTER 1. 

A REVIEW OF THE CAUSES LEADING TO THE SECOND WAR WITH 
ENGLAND. 

Duplicity and oppressive acts of the British Government contrasted with the 
forbearance of the United States— Character of Madison— Debates in Con- 
gress on War measures — Declaration of War, 15 



CHAPTER H. 

Different feelings with which the Declaration of War was received — State of 
the parties at the commencement— Federalists and Democrats — Their hos- 
tility — Absurd doctrines of the Federalists — Hostility of New England — 
Unprepared state of the country — Culpable neglect of the government — 
Comparative strength of the two navies— Empty state of the Treasury— In- 
efficiency of the Cabinet, ...'..,... B8 



CHAPTER HI. 

Plan of the Campaign— General Hull sent to Detroit— British oflScers first 
receive news of the declaration of war — Capture of Hull's baggage, etc. — 
Enters Canada and issues a proclamation, and sends out detachments — 
Colonels McArthur and Cass advance on Maiden— Hull refuses to sustain 
them — Kecrosses to Detroit— Van Home's defeat— Colonel Miller defeats the 
enemy, and opens Hull's commuuications — Strange conduct of Hull — Ad- 
vance of the British — Surrender of Detroit — Indignation of the officers — 
Beview of the Campaign — Eising of the people— Harrison takes command — 

Advance of the army, .... , TO 

1* 



CONTEISTTS. 



Page 

CHAPTER IV. 

Operations on the New York frontier— B&ttle of Queenstown— Death of Brock 
— Scott a prisoner— General Smythes Proclamation and abortive attempts — 
Cm-sed by the army — Duel with General Porter — Retires in disgrace — Dear- 
born's movements and failures— Ee view of the campaign on the New York 
frontier — Cuaiacter of the officers and soldiers, ...... 98 



CHAPTER V. 

THE NAVY. 

The Cabinet resolves to shut up our ships of war in port— Eemonstrance of 
Captains Bainbridge and Stuart — Kodgers ordered to sea — Feeling of the 
crews — Chase of the Belvidere — Narrow escape of the Constitution from an 
English fleet — > ruise of the Essex — Action between the Constitution and 
Guerriere— Effect of the victory in Enghmd and the United States — United 
States takes the Macedonian — Lieutenant Hamilton carries the captured 
colors to Washington— Presented to Mrs. Madison in a ball-room— The 
Argus — Action between the Wasp and Frolic — ( onstitution captures the 
Java — Hornet takes the Peacock— Effect of these Victories abroad, . 125 



CHAPTER VH. 

Harrison plans a winter campaign— Advance of the army— Battle and massa- 
cre at the River Raisin— Baseness of Proctor — Promoted by his Government 
— Tecumseh, his character and eloquence — He stirs up the Creeks to War- 
Massacre at Fort Mimms — Investment of Fort Meigs — Advance of Clay's re- 
inforcements and their destruction — Successful eortie — Flight of the besieg- 
ers—Major Croghan's gallant defence of Fort Stephenson, . . . ITT 



CONTENTS. 



Pago 
CHAPTER Vill. 

Chauncey ordered to Lake Erie to build a fleet — A plan of the campaign- - 
Woolsey — Attack on York — Death of General Pike — His character — Capture 
f Fort George— Gallantry of Scott— Eepulse of the British at Sackett's Har- 
bor by General Brown— Dearrborn pursues Vincent — Night attack on the 
American encampment — Generals Winder and Chandler taken prisoners — 
Retreat of the army — Reinforced by General Lewis— Dearborn at Fort 
George — Defeat of Colonel Boestler at Beaver Dams — Attack on Black Rook 
—Dearborn withdrawn from the command of the northern army, . . 2ii6 



CHAPTER IX. 

SECOND SESSION OF THE TWELFTH CONGRESS. 

Army bill — Quincy and Williams — Debate on the bonds of merchants given 
for British goods imported in contravention of the non-importation act — De- 
bate on the bills increasing the army to 55,000 men — Williams' report— 
Quincy's attack— Clay's rejoinder— Randolph, Calhoun, Quincy, Lowndes 
and Clav— State of the Treasury, 234 



CHAPTER X. 

Action between the Chesapeake and Shannon — ^Rejoicing in England over the 
victory — The Enterprise captures the Boxer — Death of Lieutenant Burrows 
— Daring cruise of the Argus in the English and Irish channels— Lieutenant 
Allen's humanity — Action with the Pelican — Death of Allen — His character, 341 



CHAPTER XL 

Cost of transportation to the northern frontier— English fleet on our coast — 
Ot^esapeake blockaded — Blockade of the whole coast— Cockburn attacks 
Frenchtown — Burns Havre De Grace — Attacks Georgetown and Fredericks- 
ic.wn — Arrival of British reinforcements — Attack on Craney Island— Bar- 
barities committed in Hampton — Excitement caused by these outrages— Com- 
modore Hardy blockades the northern coast — Torpedoes — Hostile attitude 
of Massachusetts— Komonsfrances of its legislature— Feeling of the people, 26T 



Xtl COI^TENTS. 



Faa;* 
CHAPTER XII. 

Terry obtains and equips a fleet on Lake Erie — Puts to sea — Kentucky marines 
—Description of the battle— Gallant bearing of Perry— Slaughter on the 
Lawrence — Perry after the battle— Buri&l of the officers— Exultation of the 
people— Harrison advances on Maiden — Flight of Proctor — Battle of the 
Thames, and death of Tecumseb, 271 



CHAPTER Xni. 

Wilkinson takes command of the northern army— Plan of the campaign — 
Hampton entrusted with the 6th military district and takes position at 
Plattsburg— Quarrel between the two Generals— Hampton advances, against 
orders, into Canada : is defeated— Concentration of Wilkinson's army- 
Moves down the St. Lawrence— Its picturesque aspect— Harassed by the 
enemy — Battle of Chrystler's field— Hampton refuses to join him— The expe- 
dition abandoned and the armies retire to winter-quarters— Disappointment 
and indignation of the war party, and gratification of the Federalists — Aban- 
donment of Fort George and burning of Newark— Loss of Fort Niagara and 
burning of Buffalo and the settlements along the river— Retaliation— • 
Gloomy close of the campaign, ' 



CHAPTER XI 

1813—1814. 

Winter operations — Decatur challenges Commodore Hardy to meet the United 
States and Mace Ionian with two of his frigates— Wilkinson's second inva- 
sion of Canada— Battle of la Cole Mill— Holmes' expedition Into Canada— 
Romantic character of our border warfare— Inroad of the British marines to 
Baybrook and Brockaway's Ferry, 810 



CONTENTS. Xlll 



Pag* 
CHAPTER XV. 

THIRTEENTH CONGRESS. MAY 27, 1813. 

Democratic gain in Congress— Spirit in which the two parties met— Russian 
mediation offered and accepted, and commerce opened — State of the Treasu- 
ry — Debate respecting a reporter's seat— Direct Tax — Webster's resolutions 
— Governor Chittenden — Strange conduct ©'parties in New Hampshire — Tht 
embargo— England proposes peace — Commissioners appointed — Army bill — 
Webster's speech upon it — Sketch of him — The loan bill — Defended by Mr. 
Eppes — Sketch of Mr. Pickering, with his speech— Sketch of John Forsyth, 
and his speech — Calhoun — Grosvenor — Bill for the support of military estab- 
lishments — Speech of Artemus Ward — Kesolutions of Otis in the Massachu- 
setts Senate — Eepeal of the embargo — Calhoun and Webster — Strange rever- 
sal of their positions — Strength of our navy and &rwy, .... 81d 



HISTORY OF THE SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 



CHAPTER I. 

A REVIEW OF THE CAUSES LEADING TO THE SECOND WAR WITH 
ENGLAND. 

Duplicity and oppressive acts of the British Government contrasted with the for- 
bearance of the United States— Character of Madison — Debates in Congress 
on War measures— Declaration of War. 

The peace whicli closed our revolutionary struggle 
was like a wound healed only at the surface, and 
which must be opened anew before a permanent cure 
can be effected. The desire for territory had become 
the ruling passion of the British Empire, and the loss 
of the most promising part of her vast possessions 
could not, therefore, be borne with equanimity. The 
comparatively barren and inhospitable tract lying 
north of the St. Lawrence and the lakes, which still 
belonged to her, was but a sorry substitute for the 
rich alluvial bottoms that stretched along the w^estern 
rivers, while the mouth of the St. Lawrence furnished 
but a meagre outlet compared with the noble rivers 
and capacious harbors that seamed the inland and 



16 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

indented the coasts of the Atlantic slope. Some have 
supposed that England had never abandoned the de- 
sign of recovering a part, if not the whole of the pos- 
sessions she had lost on this continent. If this be true, 
that purpose was doubtless a very vague one, and it 
depended entirely on circumstances whether it ever 
assumed a definite form. One thing, however, is cer- 
tain, she had determined to narrow down our limits 
wherever it was practicable, and to the fullest extent 
of her power. This is evident from the eagerness with 
which she urged us to acknowledge the various Indian 
tribes on our frontier, as independent nations. She 
wished to have them placed on a footing with other 
sovereign States, so that they could form treaties and 
dispose of territory to foreign governments. lN"umer- 
ous and powerful tribes then roamed undisturbed over 
vast tracts which have since become populous States. 
Could Great Britain have purchased these, or had 
them colonized by other foreign powers, nearly the 
whole line of lakes and the territory west of Lake 
Erie would have presented an impenetrable barrier 
to our growth in the northwest. 'Not succeeding in 
thi^ policy, she determined that the Indians should 
retain possession of the land as her allies. This is 
evident from the constant disturbance kept up on 
our northwestern frontiers — from Lord Dorchester's 
speeches instigating the Indians to war, and from 
the fact that an English fort was erected within the 



DESIGN OF ENGLAND. 17 

territoiy of the republic. So resolved was the Brit- 
ish Government on this course that it for a long time 
refused to carry out the stipulations of the treaty of 
1783, and still retained American posts captured by 
its forces during the revolutionary war. The defeat 
of General Harmar, in 1790, and of St. Clair, in 
1791, were not wholly owing to our inefficiency or 
to Indian prowess, but to British interference and en- 
couragement. 

The victory of Wayne, which followed these dis- 
astrous expeditions, proved this true. Canadian mil- 
itia and volunteers were found in the Indian armies, 
while the battle that completed their overthrow ended 
Tinder the walls of a British fort standing on Ameri 
can ground. These violations of a sacred treaty, and 
undisguised encroachments upon our territory on the 
frontier, were afterwards surpassed by still greater 
outrages at sea. 

The French revolution exploding like a volcano in 
the heart of Europe, followed by a republic whose 
foundation stones were laid in the proudest blood of 
France — the extinction of the Bourbon dynasty, 
and the loud declaration of rights which startled 
every despot from the Archangel to the Mediterra- 
nean like a peal of thunder, had covered the conti- 
nent with hostile armies. The European powers who 
rejoiced in the success of the revolutionary strug- 
gle on these distant shores, because it inflicted a 



18 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

blow on their proud rival, saw with consternation the 
principle that sustained it at work in their midst. Like 
the first crusade against the infidels, which at once 
healed all the animosities of the princes of Europe, a 
second crusade, harmonizing powers hitherto at vari- 
ance, was formed against this principle of human 
rights, and the allied armies moved down upon the 
infant republic of France. The devastating flood of 
feudalism would soon have swept everything under 
but for the appearance of that strange embodiment of 
power, Napoleon Bonaparte! Kolling it back from 
the French borders, he commenced that long and 
fearful struggle which ended only at Waterloo. Eng- 
land rashly formed a coalition with the continen^l 
powers, anticipating an easy overthrow to the ple- 
beian warrior, but soon found herself almost alone 
in the conflict ; and instead of treading down her an- 
cient rival, began to tremble for her own safety. The 
long and deadly strife that followed exhausted her 
resources and crippled her strength. Her war ships 
stretched from Copenhagen to the Xile, and to sup- 
ply these with seamen, she resorted to impressment 
not only on her own shores, amid her own subjects, but 
on American ships, among American sailors. Our 
merchant vessels were arrested on the high seas, and 
men, on the groundless charge of being deserters, 
immediately coerced into the British service. To 
such an extent was this carried, that in nine months 



IMPRESSMENT OF AMERICANS. 19 

of tlie years 1796 and '97, Mr. King, the American 
minister at London, bad made application for the re- 
lease of two hundred and seventy-one seamen^ most 
of whom were American citizens. 

At first the British Government claimed only the 
right to seize deserters ; but its necessities demand- 
ing a broader application to right of search, her ves- 
sels of war arrested Auierican merchantmen to seek 
for British seamen^ and later still, for British sub- 
jects — finally, every sailor was obliged to prove him- 
self a citizen of the United States on the spot, or he 
was liable to be forced into British service. Ameri- 
can merchants were thus injured while prosecuting 
ajawful commerce, and worse than all, great distress 
was visited on the friends and relatives of those who 
were illegally torn from their country and pressed 
into the hated service of a hated nation. Over six 
thousand were known to have been thus seized, while 
the actual number was much greater. 

N"ot content with committing these outrages on the 
high seas, English vessels boarded our merchantmen 
and im]3ressed our seamen in our own waters. That 
line which runs parallel to the sea coast of evdVy 
nation, and which is considered' its legitimate boun- 
dary, presented no obstacles to British cruisers. 

In 1804, the frigate Cambria boarded an Ameri- 
can merchantman in the harbor of New York, and 

* Vide letter of Mr. King to the Secretary of State. 



20 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

in direct opposition to the port officers, carried off 
several of her seamen. To complete the insult, the 
commander declared, in an official letter to the 
British Minister, that he " considered his ship, while 
lying in the harbor of ISTew York, as having dominion 
around her within the distance of her l)uoysr Kot 
long after a coasting vessel while going from one 
American port to another, was hailed by a British 
cruiser, and, refusing to stop, was fired into and one 
of her crew killed. Thus an American citizen was 
murdered within a mile of shore, and while going 
from port to port of his own country.* 

These aggressions on land and insults at sea con- 
tinued, at intervals, down to 1806, when our com- 
merce received a more deadly blow from the British 
orders in council, and Napoleon's famous Berlin and 
Milan decrees. To annoy and cripple her adversary, 
Endand declared the whole coast of France, from 
Brest to the Elbe, in a state of blockade. Napoleon 
retaliated by the Berlin decree, in which he declared 
the British Islands in a state of blockade. The next 
year the English government issued other orders in 
council, blockading the whole continent, which were 
met by Napoleon's Milan decree. 

These famous orders in council, so far as they 
•affected us, declared all American vessels going to 

* Vide Letter of Madison to Mr. Rose, the British Minister, dated 
March 5th, 1808. 



PAPER BLOCKADE. '21 

and from the harbors of France and her allies, law- 
ful prizes, except such as had first touched at, or 
cleared from an English port. The Berlin and 
Milan decrees, on the other hand, pronounced all 
vessels that had so touched at an English port, or 
allowed themselves to be searched bj a British 
cruiser, the property of France, while British goods, 
wherever found, were subject to confiscation. In 
short, if we did not confine our commerce to England, 
the latter would seize our merchantmen, wherever 
found, as lawful prizes, while if we did trade with 
her, or even touch at her ports at all, France claiiped 
them as her property. 

England, without the slightest provocation, had 
commenced a war against France, and irritated at 
her want of success, declared her coast in a state of 
blockade — thus violating an established law of 
nations. The principle has long been admitted and 
acted upon by the principal maritime nations of the 
world, that neutral flags have a right to sail from 
port to port of the belligerent powers, to carry any 
merchandise whatever, except those contraband of 
war, such as arms, munitions of war, or provisions for 
the enemy. The 'only exception to it is an actual 
blockade of a port where neutrals are forbidden an 
entrance. This principle is founded in common jus- 
tice; otherwise two strong maritime nations might 
make a third neutral power the greatest sufferer from 



22 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

the war. Besides, if the right to create paper block- 
ades is allowed, no restrictions, can be placed upon it, 
and in case of another war with England, she could 
declare the whole coast of America, from Maine to 
Mexico, and that portion of our territory on the 
Pacific, in a state of blockade, while the naval force 
of the world could not maintain an actual one. 

The injustice of these retaliatory measures was 
severely felt by our government. They placed us, a 
neutral power, in a worse attitude than if allied to 
one or the other we had been at open war with the 
third, for in the latter case our war ships could have 
defended our commerce, which would also have been 
under the protection of the cruisers of our ally. But 
now our men-of war were compelled to look silently 
on and see American merchantmen seized, while two 
nations, instead of one, claimed the right to plunder us. 
Our commerce for the last few years had advanced 
with unparalleled strides — so that at this time our 
canvass whitened almost every sea on the globe, and 
wealth was pouring into the nation. Suddenly, as if 
the whole world, without any forewarning, had de- 
clared war against us ; the ocean was covered with 
cruisers after American vessels, and the commerce 
of the country was paralyzed by a single blow. 

But the most extraordinary part of the whole pro- 
ceeding was, that while England, by her orders in 
council, shut the Continent from us and confiscated 



FOKGED ENGLISH PAPERS. 23 

as a smuggler every American vessel that attempted 
to enter any of its porjts, she herself, v^ith forged 
papers, under the American flag, carried on an ex- 
tensive trade. The counterfeit American vessel was 
allowed to pass unmolested by British cruisers, while 
the real American was seized. It was estimated that 
England made fifteen thousand voyages per annum 
in these disguised vessels, thus appropriating to her- 
self all the advantages to be gained by a neutral 
nation in trading with the Continent, and using our 
flag as a protection. 

These were the prominent causes of the war, suf- 
ficient, one would think, to justify the American 
Government in declaring it. One-hundreth part of 
the provocation which we then endured, would 
now bring the two governments in immediate and 
fierce collision. 

But, notwithstanding England's desires and neces- 
sities, she would never have committed these out- 
rages, had she not entertained a supreme contempt 
for our power, and cherished an inextinguishable 
hatred of the nation, rendering her utterly indififer- 
ent to our rights. The treaty of 1Y83, by which our 
independence was acknowledged, was wrung from 
her by stern necessity. It was not an amicable set- 
tlement of the quarrel — a final and satisfactory ad- 
justment of all difficulties. On the part of England 
it was a morose and reluctant abandonment of a 



24 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

strife wliicli was costing her too dear — the unwilling 
surrender of her best provinces under circumstances 
dishonorable to her flag, and humbling to her na- 
tional pride. This hatred of the rebel colony was 
mingled with contempt for our institutions and na- 
tional character, exhibited in a proud assumption of 
superiority and disregard of our rights and our 
demands. A nation sunk in helpless weakness may 
submit to tyrannical treatment, but one rapidly 
growing in strength and resources, is sure to have a 
day of reckoning, when it will demand a swift and 
complete settlement of the long-endured wrongs. 

Our wisest statesmen, aware of this state of feel- 
ing, foresaw an approaching rupture. The elder 
Adams, as far back as 1785, says, in writing from 
England : " Their present system (the English) as far 
as I can penetrate it, is to maintain a determined 
peace with all Europe, in order that they may war 
singly against America."* In 1794, Washington, in a 
letter to Mr. Jay, after speaking of the retention of 
posts which the British Government had, by treaty, 
ceded to us, and of the conduct of its agents in stir- 
ring up the Indians to hostilities, says : " Can it be 
expected, I ask, so long as these things are known in 
the United States, or at least firmly believed, and 
suffered with impunity by Great Britain, that there 

* Letter of Adams to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, 19tli of Jnly, 
1785. 



HOSTILITY OF ENGLAND. 25 

ever will or can be any cordiality between tlie two 
countries ? I ansv/er, No. And I will undertake, 
without the gift of prophecy, to predict, that it w^ill 
be imj^ossible to keep this counti-y in a state of amity 
wdth Great Britain long, if those posts are not sur- 
rendered." Still later, Jefferson, writing home from 
England, says : '' In spite of treaties, England is our 
enemy. Her hatred is deep-rooted and cordial, and 
nothing with her is wanted but power, to wipe us 
and the land we live in out of existence." 

Having scarcely recovered from the debility pro- 
duced by the long revolutionary struggle — -just begin- 
ning to feel the invigorating impulse of prosperity, the 
nation shrunk instinctively from a war which would 
paralyze her commerce and. prostrate all her rising 
hopes. The Government hesitated to take a bold 
and decided stand on its rights, and urge their im- 
mediate and complete acknowledgment. This for- 
bearance on our part, and apparent indifference to 
the honor of the nation, only increased the contempt, 
and confirmed the determination of the British Gov- 
ernment. Still, remonstrances were made. Soon 
after the arrival of the British Minister, Mr. Ham- 
mond, in 1791, Jefferson stated the causes of com- 
plaint, followed up the next year by an able paper 
on the charges made by the former against our Gov- 
ernment. This paper remained unanswered, and 
two years after Jefferson resigned his secretaryship. 



26 SECOND WAS WITH ENGLAND. 

Tlie next year, 1T94, tlie Britisli Government 
issued an order of council, requiring her armed ships 
to arrest all vessels carrying j^rovisions to a French 
colony, or laden with its produce. The American 
Government retaliated with an embargo, and began 
to make preparations for immediate hostilities. In a 
few months the order was revoked, and one less ex- 
ceptionable issued, that calmed for aAvhile the 
waters of agitation, and Mr. Jay was sent as Minister 
. to England, to negotiate a new treaty, which was to 
settle all past difficulties, establish some principles 
of the law of nations, especially those affecting bel- 
ligerents and neutrals, and to regulate commerce. 
This treaty removed many of the causes of complaint, 
but like all treaties between a weak and strong gov- 
ernment, it secured to England the lion's portion. 
But with all its imperfections and want of recipro- 
city, it vras ratified in the spring of 1796, and be- 
came a law. Met at every step by a determined op- 
position, its discussion inflamed j)arty spirit to the 
highest point, while its ratification was received with 
as many hisses as plaudits. Still, it brought a partial, 
hollow pacification between the tv\'o governments, 
which lasted till 1806, when the orders in council be- 
fore mentioned were issued. Great Britain, however, 
hesitated not to impress our. seamen and vex our com- 
merce during the whole period, with the exception of 
the short interval of the peace of iimiens. In 1803, 



OEDEES IN COUNCIL. 27 

with the renewal of the war between her and France, 
impressment was again practiced, though met at all 
times by remonstrance, which in turn was succeeded 
by negotiation. 

Those orders in Council seemed, at first, to pre- 
clude the possibility of an amicable adjustment of 
difiiculties. The country was on fire from Portland 
to 'Ne^Y Orleans. Cries of distress, in the shape of 
memorials to Congress, came pouring in from every 
sea port in the Union. Plundered merchants in- 
voked the interposition of the strong arm of power 
to protect their rights, and demanded indemnity for 
losses that beggared tljeir fortunes. Scorn and rage 
at this bold high-handed robbery, filled every bosom, 
and the nation trembled on the verge of war. Jef- 
ferson, however, sent Mr. Pinckney as envoy extra- 
ordinary to cooperate with Mr. Monroe, our minister 
to England, in forming a treaty which should recog- 
nize our maritime rights. 

In the spring (jf the next year Jefferson received 
the treaty from London. It having arrived the day 
before the adjournment of Congress, and contain- 
ing so much that was inadmissible, he did not sub- 
mit it to that body. 

In the first place, there was no provision against 
the impressment of seamen ; and in the second place, 
a note from the British ministers accompanied it, 
stating that the British government reserved to 



28 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

itself tlie riglit to violate all tlie stipulations it 
contained, if we submitted to the Berlin decree, and 
other infractions of our rights bj France. Tliis 
reservation on the part of England was an assumption 
of power that required no discussion. To declare 
that she would annul her own solemn treaty, the 
moment she disapproved of our conduct towards 
other nations, was to assume the office of dictator. 

In the mean time, the death of Fox, whose charac- 
ter and conduct the short time he was in power had 
given encouragement that a permanent peace could 
be established, and the election of the dashing and 
fiery Canning to his place, involved the negotia- 
tions in still greater eml)arrassments. To indicate 
his course, and reveal at the outset the unscru- 
pulous and treacherous policy England was hence- 
forth determined to carry out, he had ready for 
promulgation long before it could be ascertained 
what action our government would take on that 
treaty, those other orders in Council, blockading the 
continent to us. Tie declared, also, that all further 
negotiations on the subject were inadmissible ; thus 
leaving us no otlier alternative, but to submit or retal- 
iate. Thus our earnest solicitations and fervent desire 
to continue on terms of amity — our readiness to yield 
for the sake of peace what now of itself would pro- 
voke a war, were met by deception and insult. Eng- 
land not only prepared orders violating our rights 



EMBARGO. 29 

as a neutral nation while submitting a treaty tliat 
protected them, but plundered our vessels, impressed 
our seamen, and threatened the towns aloug our 
coast with conflagration. 

We could not allow our flag to be thus dishonored, 
our seamen impressed, and our commerce vexed with 
impunity, and declared common plunder by the two 
chief maritime nations of Europe. Retaliation, 
therefore, was resolved upon ; and in December of 
1807, an embargo was laid upon all American ves- 
sels and merchandize. In the S2:>irit of conciliation, 
however, which marked all the acts of government, 
the President was authorized to suspend it soon 
as the conduct of European powers would sanction 
him in doing so. This embargo prohibited all Ame- 
rican vessels from sailing from foreign ports, all 
foreign ships from carrying away cargoes ; while by 
a supplementary act, all coasting vessels were com- 
pelled to give bonds that they would land their car- 
goes in the United States. 

This sudden suspension of commerce, threaten- 
ing bankruptcy and ruin to so many of our mer- 
chants, and checking at once the flow of produce 
from the interior to the sea-board, was felt severely 
by the people, and tried their patriotism to the 
utmost. Still the measure was approved by the 
majority of the nation. 'New England denounced 
it, as'that section of the republic had denounced 



30 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

nearly eyery measure of the administration from its 
commencement. The effect of the embargo was to 
depress the products of our own country one half, and 
increase those of foreign countries in the same pro- 
portion. There being no outlet to the former, they 
accumulated in the market, and often w^ould not 
bring sufficient to pay the cost of mere transporta- 
tion, while the supply of the latter being cut off, the 
demand for them became proportionably great. 
Thus it fell as heavy on the agricultural classes as 
on the merchant, for while a portion of their ex- 
penses were doubled, the produce with which they 
were accustomed to defray them became worthless. 
But ship owners and sailors suffered still more, for 
the capital of the one was profitless, and the occu- 
pation of the other gone. It is true it helped manu- 
facturers' by increasing the demand for domestic 
goods ; it also saved a large amount of property, 
and a vast number of American ships, which, if they 
had been afloat, would have fallen into the hands 
of French and English cruisers. 

But, while the embargo pressed so heavily on 
us, it inflicted severe damage also on France 
and England, especially the latter. The United 
States was her best customer, and the sudden stop- 
page of all the channels of trade was a heavy blow 
to her manufactures, and would, no doubt, have 
compelled a repeal of the orders in council to us, 



EFFECT OF EMBAEGO. 31 

had not slie known that we were equal, if not greater 
sufferers. But while the two nations thus stood with 
their hands on each other's throats, determined to 
see which could stand choking the longest, it soon 
became evident that our antagonist had greatly the 
advantage of us, for the embargo shut ourselves 
out from the trade of the whole world, while it only 
cut England off from that of the United States. Be- 
sides, being forced to seek elsewhere for the products 
she had been accustomed to tal^ from us, other 
channels of trade began to be opened, which threat- 
ened to become permanent. 

A steady demand will always create a supply 
som.ewhere, and this was soon discovered in the 
development of resources in the West Indies, Spain, 
Spanish America, and Brazil, of which the British 
Government had hitherto been ignorant. 

The loud outcries from the opponents of this mea- 
sure, especially from 'New England, also convinced 
her that our government must soon repeal the 
obnoxious act. 

Under the tremendous pressure with wdiich the 
embargo bore on the people, New England openly 
threatened the government. John Qiiincy Adams, 
who had sustained the administration in its course, 
finding his conduct denounced by the Massachusetts 
Legislature, resigned his seat, declaring to the Presi- 
dent that there was a plan on foot to divide New 



32 SECOND WAR AVITH ENGLAND. 

England from the Union, and that a secret emissary 
from Great Britain was tlien at work with the ruling 
federalists to accomplish it. Whether this was true 
or false, one thing was certain, an ominous cloud was 
gathering in that quarter that j3ortended evil, the 
extent of which no one could calculate. 

Under these circumstances the embaroro was 

1809, ° 

repealed, and the non-intercourse law, prohibit- 
\in£: all commercial intercourse with France and 
\Great Britain substituted. 

While these things were transpiring an event 
occurred which threatened to arrest all negotiations. 

The Chesapeake, an American frigate, cruising in 
American waters, had been fired into by the Leopard, 
a British 74, and several of her crew killed. The 
commander of the latter claimed some British de- 
serters, whom he declared to be on board the Ameri- 
can ship. Capt. Barron denied his knowledge of 
any such being in the Chesapeake ; moreover, he had 
instructed, he said, his recruiting officer not to enlist 
any British subjects. The captain of the Leopard then 
demanded permission to search. This, of course, was 
refused, when a sudden broadside was poured into 
the American frigate. Captain Barron not dreaming 
of an encounter, had very culpably neglected to clear 
his vessel for action, and at once struck his flag. 
An officer from the Leopard was immediately sent on 
board, who demanded the muster-roil of the ship, 



CHESAPEAKE AND LEOPAED. 33 

and selecting four of tlie crew, he retired. Three of 
these were native Americans, the other was hung as a 
deserter. This daring outrage tlirew the country into 
a tumult of excitement. JSTorfolk and Portsmouth 
immediately forbade all communication with British 
ships of war on the coast. The war spirit was aroused, 
and soon after Jefferson issued a procla- 

July 3. ^ 

mation, prohibiting all vessels bearing English 
commissions from entering any American harbor, 
or having any intercourse with the shore. 

The act of the Leopard was repudiated by the 

1808. . r 1 J 

English Government; but the rage that had 
been kindled was not so easily laid, especially, as no 
reparation was made. Mr. Monroe, our Minister to 
England, and Canning could not adjust the matter; 
neither could Mr. Rose, the English Minister, after- 
wards sent over for that especial purpose. The Brit- 
ish Government would not consent to mingle it up 
with the subject of impressment generally, and re- 
fused to take any steps whatever towards reparation, 
until the President's hostile proclamation was with- 
drawn. Jefferson replied that if the minister would 
disclose the terms of reparation, and they were satis- 
factory, their offer and the repeal of the proclama- 
tion should bear the same date. This was refused 
and Mr. Pose returned home. 

March. In thcnnidst of this general distress and clamor, 
2* 



34: SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

and strife of political factions, Mr. Madison, who Lad 
been elected President, began his administration. 

Jefferson had struggled in vain against the unjust 
insane policy of England. Embargoes, non-intercourse 
acts, all efibrts at commercial retaliation, remonstrances, 
arguments and appeals were alike disregarded. 
Proud in her superior strength, and blind to her own 
true interests, she continued her high-handed viola- 
tion of neutral rights and the laws of nations. In 
the mean time, the republic itself ^Yas torn by fac- 
tions which swelled the evils that oppressed it. It was 
evident that Madison's seat would not be an easy 
one, and it was equall}^ apparent that he lacked some 
most important qualities in a chief magistrate who 
was to conduct the ship of State through the storms 
and perils that were gathering thick about her. Tbe 
commanding mind overshadowing and moulding the 
entire cabinet, the prompt decision, fearless bearing 
and great energy were wanting. His manifest re- 
pugnance to a belligerent attitude encouraged oppo- 
sition and invited attack. Small in stature and of 
delicate health, with shy, distant, reserved manners, 
and passionless countenance, he was not fitted to 
awaken awe or impart fear. Still he was a thorough 
statesman. His official correspondence, while Jeffer- 
son's Secretary of State, his dissertation on the rights 
of neutral nations and the laws that should govern 
neutral trade, are regarded to this day as the most 



85 

able 23apers that Qvev issued from the American cab- 
inet. Ills knowledire of the Constitution was thorou2:li 
and practical, and his adherence to it inflexible. The 
exigencies of war, which always afibrd apologies, and 
sometimes create demands for an illegal use of power 
never forced him bejond the precincts of law or pro- 
voked him to an improper use of executive authority. 
His integrity was immovable, and though assailed 
by envenomed tongues and pursued by slanders, his 
life at the last shone out in all its purit}^, the only 
refutation he deigned to make. 

Eut Madison possessed one quality for which his 
enemies did not give him credit, and which bore him 
safely through the perils that encompassed his ad- 
ministration — a calm tenacity — a silent endurance 
such as the deeply-bedded rock presents in the midst 
of the waves. Men knew him to be in his very na- 
ture repugnant to war, and when they saw him go 
meekly, nay, shrinkijigly into it, they expected to 
laugh over his sudden and disgraceful exit. But 
while he was not aggressive and decided in his con- 
duct, he boldly took the responsibilities which the na- 
tion placed upon his shoulders, and bore them se- 
renely, unshrinkingly to the last. His hesitation in 
approaching a point around which dangers and re- 
sponsibilities clustered prepared the beholder for 
weak and irresolute conduct, but he was amazed at 
his steadiness of character. This apparent contra- 



36 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

diction arose from two conflicting elements. Incapa- 
ble of excitement and opposed to strife, ho naturally 
kept aloof from the place where one was demanded, 
and the other to be met. Yet, at the same time, he 
had a knowledge of the right, and an inflexible love 
for it which made him immovable when assailed. 

On the whole, perhaps the character he possessed 
was better fitted to secure the permanent good of the 
country than that of a more executive man. A bold, 
decided chief magistrate, possessing genius, and 
calming by his superior wisdom and strength, the 
disturbed elements about him, and developing and 
employing the resources of the country at the outset, 
would probably have ended the war in six months. 
But the knowledge the country gained and communi- 
cated also to other governments of its own weakness 
and power, was, perhaps, better than the misplaced 
confidence which sudden success, obtained through 
a great leader would have imparted. In the vicissi- 
tudes of the war, we worked out a problem which 
needs no farther demonstration. 

Madison's administration was based on those prin- 
ciples which had governed that of Jefierson, and the 
same restrictive measures were persevered in to com- 
pel England to adopt a system more conformable to 
our rights and the laws of neutrality. In the mean 
time Mr. Erskine was appointed Minister on the part 
of Great Britain to adjust the difficulties between the 



ekskine's treaty. 37 

two countries. At first tliis seemed an easy task, -for 
he declared that his government would revoke the 
orders in council on condition the non-intercourse act 
was repealed. The proposal Vv^as at once communi- 
cated to Congress when it assembled in May, and ac- 
cepted by it. The 10th of June was agreed upon as 
the day on which commercial intercourse should rc- 
Aprii 19. commence between the two countries, and 
1809. the President issued a proclamation to that 
efiect. In July, however, it was ascertained that the 
British Government repudiated the agreement en- 
tered into by its Minister, declaring that he had ex- 
ceeded his instructions. A second proclamation re- 
establishing non intercourse was instantly issued, and 
the two countries were farther than ever from a re- 
conciliation. 

The conduct of Great Britain, at this period, pre- 
sents such a strong contrast to her loud declarations 
before the world, or rather stamps them as false- 
hoods so emphatically, that the historian is not sur- 
prised at the utter perversion of facts with which she 
endeavored to cover up her turpitude, and quiet her 
conscience. Without any provocation, she had de- 
clared war against the infant republic of France. 
In order to shield herself from the infamy which 
should follow such a violation of the rights of na- 
tions, and waste of treasure and of blood, she 
planted herself on the grand platform of principle, 



38 SECOND WAE WITH ENGLAND. 

and insisted tliat she v/ent to war to preserve human 
liberty, and the integrity of governmentp,; In this vio- 
lent assault on a people with whom she was at peace, 
she made a great sacrilice for the common interests 
of states, and hence deserved the gratitude, and not 
the condemnation of men. With these declarations 
on her lips, she turned and deliberately annulled her 
agreements with the United States, and invaded her 
most sacred rights. She impressed our seamen, 
plundered our commerce, held fortresses on our soil, 
and stirred up the savages to merciless warfare 
aerainst the innocent inhabitants on our frontier. 
"While with one hand she j)i'ofessed to strike for the 
rights of nations, with the other she violated them 
in a hardihood of spirit never witnessed, excej^t in a 
government destitute alike of honor and of truth. So, 
also, while sacrificing her soldiers and her wealth, to 
prevent the aggressions of IsTapoleon ; nay, sending a 
fleet and troops to Egypt, for the noble ]3urpose of 
saving that barbarous state from a reckless invader ; 
her armies were covering the plains of India with 
its innocent inhabitants, and robbing independent 
shiekhs of their lawful possessions, until, at last, she 
tyrannized over a territory four times as large as 
that of all France, and six times greater than her 
own island. Such unblushing falsehoods were never 
before uttered by a civilized nation in the face of 
tistory. The most unscrupulous government does not 



EXASPEEATION OF THE PEOPLE. 39 

usually cover np its tyranny and aggressions by 
pharasaic mnmmeri^s. There are all shades of 
hypocrisy, but to do the most damning acts nnder 
pretence of religions principle, has generally been 
considered the sole prerogative of the Spanish in- 
qnisition. 

The disavowal of Mr. Erskine's treaty by the Eng- 
lish government, and the consequent renewal of the 
non-intercourse act, threw the country into the 
fiercest agitation. The conduct of Great Britain ap- 
peared like mockery. Forcing us into conciliation 
by promises, and then withdrawing those promises ; 
proposing to settle all difficulties by negotiation, 
and yet, in the progress of it, refusing to touch one 
of them, she determined to try the patience of the; 
American people to the utmost. The disavowal of 
a treaty made by her own minister, which buoyed 
up the nation with the hope of returning peace and 
prosperity, well nigh exhausted that patience ; and 
there is little doubt but that an immediate declara- 
tion of war would have been sustained by a large 
majority of the American people. In passing from 
town to town, the traveller saw groups of angry men 
discussing and denouncing the tyranny of England. 
The shout of ^\Free trade and sailori rights ^"^ shook 
the land, while flashing eyes and clenched fists 
told how aroused the national feeling had becom^. 

Mr. Jackson was sent, in the place of Mr. Erskine, 



40 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

to negotiate a treat}^ ; but liis proposals were the 
same as tliose w^liicli tlie administration had already 
rejected, while his insulting insinuation that the 
President knew wdien he made the arrangement with 
Mr. Erskine, that the latter w^as acting without 
authority, abruptly terminated all intercourse, and 
he w^as recalled. 

On the first of May, Congress passed an act 
which revoked the restrictive system, yet ex- 
j eluded British and armed vessels from the waters 
of the United States."^ It provided, however, that it 
should be renewed in March against the nation, which 
did not before that time so revoke or modify its edicts, 
as to protect the neutral commerce of the United 
States. This was regarded as the ultimatum, and be- 
yond it, war against wliich ever governmicnt refused 
our just demands, was the only resort. Messrs. Pinck- 
ney and Armstrong, our ministers at the courts of 
England and France, were urged to press the repeal 
of those obnoxious orders in council and decrees, in 
order that such a catastrophe might be prevented. 
Erance receded, and Mr. Armstrong was notified 
that the decrees were to cease to have efi'ect after 
the first of November, provided England w^ithdrew 
her orders in council ; or, if she refused, that the 
United States should force her to acknowledge the 
rights that France had, in a spirit of kindness, con- 

* Act of Congress, passed 1st of May, 1810. 



NAPOLEON REVOKES IHS DECREES. 4:1 

ce'ded. This glad intelligence was made known by 
the President in a proqlamation, in which he also 
declared, that unless the British government re- 
pealed her orders in council, within three months 
from that date, the non-intercourse law should be 
revived against it. 

In the mean time Mr. Piiicknej urged, with all the 
arguments in his power, the English Cabinet to re- 
cede from its unjustifiable position. Tiie latter en- 
deavored, by prevarication and duplicity, to avoid 
coming to a definite understanding, but being closely 
pushed, it at length gave our minister to understand 
that the United States must force France to take the 
first stej^ in revoking those odious acts against which 
we complained. But as England had been the 
aggressor, this was plainly unjust and impossi- 
ble, and all hope of a peaceful settlement was 
given up, and on the 1st of March, 1811, he took a 
formal leave of the Prince Regent. At the same 
time Congress had passed an act, authorizing the 
President to arrest the non-intercourse Act at any 
moment that England should revoke her orders in 
April, council. On tlie 38th of the next month, Nsl- 
1811; poleon definitely revoked his Berlin and Milan 
decrees, so far as they related to us — the repeal to be 
ante-dated IsTovember 1st, 1810. This decree was 
forwarded by our minister, Mr. Barlow, v/ho had 
succeeded Armstrong, to the English Government, 



42 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

but it still refused to repeal its orders in council on 
the ground that the decree did not embrace the con- 
tinental states, and affected onlj the United States. 
It soon became apparent, therefore, to everyone, that 
war was inevitable. The American Government had 
placed itself, where it could not recede without 
disgrace, while England was evidently resolved not 
to change her attitude. 

Another collision at sea between two armed vessels 
inflamed still more the war spirit that was 

1811. 

pervading the land. On the 16th of May a 
'British sloop of war, the Little Belt, fired into the 
frigate President, thinking doubtless to repeat the 
outi-age committed on the Chesapeake, but found her 
fire returned with such heavy broadsides that in a 
few minutes thirty- two of her crew were killed or 
wounded. The commander of the English ship de- 
clared that the American frigate fired first. This 
Rodgers denied, and his denial was sustained b}^ all 
his ofiicers. 

The election of members of Congress, which took 
place in 1810 and 11, had given a majority to the ad- 
ministration, so that there could be harmony of action 
between the Legislature and the Executive. Beset 
with difiiculties, treading on the brink of a war, 
whose issues could not be foreseen, anxious and un- 
certain, the President, by proclamation, called the 
Twelfth Congress together a month before the ap- 



TWELFTH CONGRESS. 43 

pointed time. It met 'Nov, 8th, and Henry Clay- 
was chosen speaker. From the outset he had been a 
warm supj^orter of the Administration, and his 
eloquent voice had rung over the land, rousing up 
its warlike spirit, and inspiring confidence in the 
ability of the nation to maintain its rights. James 
Fisk, of Vermont, Peter B. Porter, and Samuel L. 
Mitchell, of New York, Adam' Leybert, of Penn., 
Eobert AVright, of Md., Hugh IS'elson, of Ya., 
Kathaniel Macon, of N. C, Calhoun, Langdon, 
Cheeves, and Wm. Lowndes, of S. C, Wm. M. Bibb 
and George M. Troup, of Ga., Felix Grundy, of Tenn., 
and Wm. P. Duval, of Ky., rallied round the young 
speaker, and presented a noble phalanx to the 
anxious President. On the other side were Josiah 
Quincy, of Mass, and Timothy Pitkin and Benjamin 
Talmadge, of Conn. 

In the Senate the democratic leaders were Samuel 
Smith, of Md., Wm. B. Giles, of Ya., Wm. H. 
Crawford, of Ga., George W. Campbell, of Tenn., and 
George M. Bibb, of Ky. Leading the opposition 
were James Lloyd, of Mass., and James A. Bayard, 
of Del.* 

The great accession of strength which the demo- 
cratic members had. received, showed clearly the 
state of public feeling, especially south and west, and 
the doubtful, hesitating policy of the last four years 

* Vide Madison's Administration, by John Quincy Adams. 



44 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAOT). 

was thi'own aside. The tone of the President's 
Message was also decidedly warlike, and no hope 
was held out of an amicable adjustment of the 
difficulties with England. They were invoked as the 
" Legislative guardians of the nation," to put the 
country " into an armed attitude, demanded by 
the crisis." The halls of Cono;ress resounded with 
the cry of " to arms." The nightmare of fear and 
doubt which had weighed down its councils was 
removed, and bold and fearless speakers called aloud 
on the nation to defend its injured honor and insulted 
rights. The might of England had ceased to be 
a bugbear — the Kubicon of fear was passed. 
Mr. Madison, deprecating precipitate measures, saw 
with alarm the sudden bellio^erent attitude which 
Congress had assumed. The democratic leaders 
however told hihi the nation was for war — that timid- 
ity would be his ruin — that those who were resolved 
to make Mr. Clinton their candidate at the next 
presidential election were taking advantage of his 
hesitation. In the mean time bills providing for the 
enlistment of twenty-live thousand men in the 
regular army ; for repairing and equipping frigates 
and building new vessels ; authorizing the President 
to accept the services of fifty thousand volunteers, 
and to require the Governors of the several States 
and territories to hold their respective quotas of 



45 

a hundred thousand men in readiness to march at a 
I moment's warning,* were rapidly pushed through 
: j^„^^ y^ Congress. The brilliant victory, gained three 

^^^^' days after Congress met by Harrison, over the 
Indians at Tippecanoe, helped also to kindle into 
higher excitement the martial spirit of the West and 
South-west, and for a while opposition seemed to be 
struck powerless before the rising energy of the 
nation. 

The bill authorizing the President to accept and 
organize certain military corps to the number of • 
50,000, reported by Mr. Porter, Chairman of the Com- 
mittee on Foreign Affairs, called forth a long and ex- 
citing debate. Mr. Grundy, one of the committee, 
defended the resolution in a bold and manly speech. 
Referring to the Indian hostilities on our north-west- 
ern frontier, he imhesitatingly declared that they 
were urged forward by Bi-itish influence, and war, 
therefore, was already begun. Some of the richest 
blood of the countiy had already been shed, and ho 
pledged himself for the western country, that its 
hardy sons only w^aited for peimission to march 
and avenge those who had fallen. He was an- 
swered by Eandolph, who denied that Great Britain 
had stimulated the Indians to their merciless border 
warfare— stigmatized the war to which this resolu- 
tion looked as a war. of conquest — declared it was 
* Yide Madison's Administration, by John Quincy Adams. 



46 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

another mode of flinging ourselves into the arms of 
Bonaparte and becoming " the instruments of him 
who had effaced the title of Atilla 'the scourge of 
God.'" 

He ridicnled the idea which had been started of 
conquering Canada, as an insane project, and useless if 
accomplished. "Suppose it is ours," he exclaimed, 
"are we any nearer to our point? As his minister 
said to the king of Epirus, " may we not as well take 
our bottle of wine before as after the exploit ? Go 
march to Canada — leave the broad bosom of the 
Chesapeake and her hundred tributary rivers — the 
whole line of sea-coast from Machias to St. Mary's 
unprotected. You have taken Quebec — have you 
conc[ucred England f "Will you seek for the deep 
foundations of her power in the frozen depths of Lab- 
rador ? 

' Her march is on the mountain wave, 
Her home is on the deep.' 

Will you call upon her to leave your ports and har- 
bors untouched only just till you can return from 
Canada to defend them ? The coast is to be left de- 
fenceless whilst men in the interior are revelling in 
conquest and spoil." He pronounced the country 
to be in a state wholly unfit for war. 

Mr. Clay answered him in an eloquent speech. 
He defended the character of our troops, and 



47 

expressed bis full confidence in the loyalty and 
bravery of tbe country. " Gentlemen," be said, 
"bad inquired wbat would be gained by tbe con- 
templated war? Sir, I ask in turn, wbat will you 
not lose by your' mongrel state of peace witb Great 
Britain ? Do you expect to gain anytbing in a pecu- 
niary view ? No sir. Look at your treasury re- 
ports. You now receive only $6,000,000 of revenue 
annually, and tbis amount must be diminisbed in 
tbe same proportion as tbe rigorous execution of tbe 
orders in council sball increase. Before tbese orders 
existed you received sixteen millions?'' He declared 
tbat war was inevitable unless we tamely sacrificed 
our own interests, rigbts and bonor. In answering 
tbe objection tbat we ougbt only to go to war wdien 
we were invaded, be exclaimed in tbrilling tones, 
wbile tbe bouse gazed in breatbless silence on bis 
excited features, " How much better than invasion is 
the UocMng of iji ur very jports and harhm's^ insnlting 
your toions^ plundering your merchants and scouring 
your coasts f If your fields are surrounded^ are they 
in a tetter condition than if invaded f When the 
murderer is at your door will you rfieanly slcidlc to 
your cells ? or will you loldly oppose hhn at his en- 
tranced 

Every part of bis speecb told witb tremendous 
effect. Many of tbe members opposed tbe bill, 
wbicb continued tbe subject of debate for several 



48 SECOND WAR ^TTH ENGLAND. 

daj's. Mr. Williams of South Caroliua, defended 
it in a fearless speech. In reply to a remark made 
by one of the members, that it was nnjust to go to 
war with England, as she was fighting for her ex- 
istence, he exclaimed in a loud sonorous voice that 
pealed through the chamber, " If her existence^ sir^ 
depends u]^on oiir destruction^ then I say down let her 
go. She is contending for the liberties of the world 
too, it seems. I would as soon have expected to hear 
that the devil had espoused the cause of Christianity. 
Sir, we may trace her progress for years through 
blood. Did she raise the standard of liberty in India ? 
"Was it for liberty she offered up so many human 
hecatombs on the plains of Hindostan ? Was it to 
plant the standard of liberty in this country that she 
immolated even infant innocence during the war of 
the Revolution ? Is it to extend or secure the bless- 
inirs of freedom to us that the fireside and the era- 
die are exposed .to savage incursions in the west at 
this time f This part of his sjieech^ created a marked 
gensation. 

The bill finally passed by 44 to 34.* The winter 
passed in exciting debates, both in Congress and in 
the State Legislatures, while every hamlet in the land 
was agitated with the notes of hostile preparations. 
In the midst of this excitement, the country was 

* Vide Report of proceedings in the the House of Representa- 
tives, Dec. 1811. 



JOHN HENEY. 49 

startled by the transmission of documents to 

March 9. . 

Congress showing that a man by the name oi 
Henry had been sent by the Governor of Canada to 
sound the disaftected New England States and en- 
deavor to form some connection with the leading fed- 
eralists."^ 

* This adventurer after staying somv^, months in Boston, in con- 
stant communication with the Secretary of Sir James Craig, 
Governor of Canada, to whom he asserted that Massachusetts, in 
case of war, would separate from the U nion and ally herself, prob- 
ably, with England, visited the latter country to obtain remu- 
neration for his services. The Home Government, however, sent 
him back to Sir James Craig as better able to appreciate the 
value of his labors. Indignant at this neglectful treatment, he 
returned to Boston and obtained a letter of introduction from 
Governor Gerry to Madison, to whom he offered to divulge the 
whole conspiracy, of which he had been the head and soul, for a 
certain sum of money. Madison gave him $50,000, and the 
swindler embarked for France. There is but little doubt that 
Henry made a fool of the Governor of Canada, and completely 
overreached the President. The publication of the correspond- 
ence, however, increased the hatred both against the federalists 
and the English nation. 

He was an Irish adventurer of commanding person and most 
engaging address. _At one time he was editor of a paper and 
afterwards wine dealer in Philadelphia. In 1798 he was ap- 
pointed captain in the army, and stationed at Fort Adams in New- 
port. Thence he was transferred to Boston where he mingled freely 
in the best society of the city. Becoming tired of a military life, he 
bought land in Vermont, and settled down as a farmer. Finding 
agricultural pursuits unsuited to his taste, he removed to Montreal 
and studied law for several years. Being an aspiring man he 
made strenuous efforts to obtain the office of Attorney General. 
Indignant at his failure, he turned his attention to politics, in which 
he was more successful, for in a few months he acquired the snug 
little sum of $50,000, paid over to him out of the public treas- 
3 



50 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

In tlie mean time, Jonatlian Kiissell, of Rhode 

Apr. 8. 

Island, who had been appointed charge cP af- 
f aires to the English Court on the return of Mr. Pinck- 
ney, wrote home that there was no prospect that the 
British government would revoke its orders in coun- 
cil; and the President, therefore, on the first of 
Aj^ril, recommended an embargo to be laid on all 
vessels in port, or which should arrive, for the term 
of sixty days. The message was received with closed 
doors, and the house felt that this was preparatory 
to a declaration of war. When Mr. Porter, in ac- 
cordance with the recommendation of the message, 
brought in a bill to laj^this embargo, there was 
great sensation in the house. In reply to the inter- 
rogation, whether this was a peace measure or pre- 
paratory to war, Mr. Grundy, one of the committee, 
arose and said, " it is a war measure, and it is meant 
that it shall lead directly to it." Mr. Stow, of ISTew 
York, said, " if it was a precursor to war, there were 
some very serious questions to be asked. What is 

ury. He however did not enjoy the fruits of his labors. A French- 
man styling himself Count, and who had accompanied him in his 
last voyage from England, wheedled him into the purchase of 
large estates held by the former in France. Eelieved of most of 
his money, and well supplied with deeds, etc., Henry sailed for 
France. But failing to find the locality of these large possessions 
of which he had become the purchaser, he was again compelled 
to fall back on his genius for the means of subsistence, and 
became a distinguished correspondent of a London Journal 



SPEECH OF EANDOLPH. 51 

the situation of our fortresses ? What is the situ- 
ation of our country generally?" Mr. Clay then left 
the chair, and, in a short speech, made it apparent 
that after what had passed, to shrink from this be- 
cause it was a war measure, would cover the nation 
with disgrace. Eandolph, in reply, said, that he 
was so impressed with the importance of the subject, 
and the solemnity of the occasion, that he could not 
keep silent. " Sir," said he, " we are now in con- 
clave — the eyes of the surrounding world are not 
upon us. "We are shut up here from the light of 
Heaven, but the eyes of God are upon us. He 
knows the spirit of our minds. Shall we deliberate 
on this subject with the sj^irit of sobriety and can- 
dor, or with that spirit which has too often charac- 
terized our discussions upon occasions like the pre- 
sent ? We ought to realize that we are in the presence 
of that God who knows our thoughts and motives, 
and to whom we must hereafter render an account 
for the deeds done in the body." He spoke at some 
length and earnestly. Clay seeing the effect of his 
solemn adjurations on some members of the house, 
left the speaker's chair and replied, that the gentle- 
man from Yirginia need not have reminded them in 
the manner he had, of the presence of that Being 
who watches and surrounds us. He thought that 
consciousness should awaken different sentiments 
from those which had been uttered. It ought to in- 



62 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

spire us to patriotism, to the display of those qualities 
which ennobled man. God always was with the 
right, and extended his protection to those who per- 
formed their duty fearlessly, scorning the conse- 
quences. The discussion of the bill continued through 
several days, and exhibited, in a striking manner, 
the different effect of an event so momentous and 
fearful as war on different characters. In one, the 
overwhelmiug responsibility and direful results of 
ado23ting a measure leading to it, shut out all other 
considerations. To another, its chances and calami- 
ties were a matter of mere calculation to be taken 
and met by any nation that expected to exist ; while 
many hailed it with the delight of true patriotism, 
feeling that the country had, at last, risen from its 
humiliating attitude. Mr. Bleecker addressed the 
house more like a clergyman than a statesman, warn- 
ing the members to desist from the perilous course. 
On the other liand, Mr. Mitchell, from l^ew York, 
declared, that the country was not to "be frightened 
by political screech-owls ;" and, alluding to the pro- 
fligate character of the Prince Regent, said, " he did 
not think any one should be afraid to face a nation, at 
whose head stood such a man — one who was some 
years since expelled a jockey club, and who was lately 
turned out of doors for his unworthy conduct to his 
neighbor's wife. The power with which we are to 



DEBATE ON EMBAEGO. 53 

contend is not so terrific and almighty as is ima- 
gined." 

The bill finally passed, 69 to 36. In the senate, ^^^ 
'it to 11.* About the same time another dis-' ^'i 
patch was received from Mr. Enssell, closing with, 
" I no longer entertain a hope that we can honorably 
avoid war." 

This was the feeling of the majority of the nation. 
In establishing certain fixed limits beyond which it 
would not go, and erecting certain barriers over 
which it would not allow England to pass, the 
American Government had taken a position from 
Avhicli there was no receding, with honor. While 
every thing w^as thus rapidly tending to war, and 
the public was eager with expectation, waiting for 
the next movement that should precipitate it, with 
all its horrors, on the land, a despatch, received by 
the British Minister, Mr. Foster,f from Castlereagh, 
closed at once every avenue towards a peaceful ad- 
justment of the existing difficulties. Jn it he de- 
clared "that the decrees of Berlin and Milan must 
not be repealed singly and specially in., relation to 
the United States, but must be repealed, also, as to all 
other neutral nations, and that in no less extent of a 
repeal of the French decrees, had the British Gov- 

* Yide Journal of Secret Session of Congress, of April, 1812. 
t Mr. Foster had succeeded Mr. Jackson as British Minister at 
Washington, in the summer of 1811. 



54 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

ernment ever pledged itself to repeal tlie orders in 
council." * This was saying, that unless the United 
States instituted herself lawgiver between France 
and ail other European powers, and through her 
own unaided efforts obtained that which England, 
with all her niaritime strength could not enforce, 
the latter would consider herself perfectly justified in 
withholding from us our national rights. This awk- 
ward attempt to cover up under the mask of diplo- 
macy, duplicity and falsehood, from which an honor- 
able mind would have shrunk, was perfectly charac- 
teristic of the man who carried the English and 
Irish Union by the most stupendous frauds and 
bribery and corru^Dtion that can be found in the an- 
nals of modern civilization. 

I know the quasi denial of Mr. Foster, that this 
construction was a just one, yet the language used 
can convey no other. To place it beyond dispute, 
Lord Castlereagh, as late as May 22d, 1812, declared 
as British Minister, to the House of Commons, that as 
the Berlin and Milan decrees " were not uncondi- 
tionally repealed, as required by his Majesty's decla- 
ration, but only repealed so far as they regarded Ame- 
rica, he had no objection to state it, as his own 
opinion, that this French decree, so issued, made no 

* Correspondence between the Secretary of State and Mr. Foster, 
British Minister, 1812. 



DECLARATION OF WAR. 55 

manner of alteration in the question of the orders in 
council." ^ 

It is rare to find such unscrupulous conduct on 
the part of a Ministry, protected by so miserable a 
subterfuge. It could not be supposed that the 
American Government would be deceived for a mo- 
ment by it, but the belief that we could not he forced 
into a war, rendered ordinary care and cunning su- 
perfluous. Occupied with continental affairs alone, 
England looked upon the American Republic as 
only a means to accomplish her ends there. The 
administration, at Washington, was thus coimjpelled by 
the arbitrary conduct of its enemy, to declare war, 
or forfeit all claim to the respect of the nations of 
the earth, and all right to an independent existence. 

Under these circumstances, Mr. Madison no longer 
hesitated, but on the 1st day of June transmitted a 
warlike message to Congress. After recapitulating, 
in a general way, the history of past negotiations 
and past injuries, he says: "Whether the United 
States shall continue passive under these progressive 
usurpations and accumulating wrongs, or opposing 
force to force in defence of their natural rio^hts shall 
commit a just cause into the hands of the Almighty 
Disposer of events, avoiding all connections which 
might entangle it in the contests or views of other 
powers, and preserving a constant readiness to con- 
* Vide Niles' Register, vol. ii. page 332. 



56 SECOND WAR WITH- ENGLAND. 

cur in an honorable reestablisliment of peace and 
friendship, is a solemn question, which the constitu- 
tion wisely confides to the legislative department of 
the Government. In recommending it to their early 
deliberations, I am happy in the assurance that the 
decision will be worthy the enlightened and patriotic 
councils of a virtuous, a free and a powerful nation." 
This message was referred at once to the Committee 
on Foreign Eelations, who reported ten days after in 
favor of an immediate appeal to arms. The delib- 
erations on this report were conducted with closed 
doors. 

A bill drawn up by Mr. Pinckney, and offered by 
Mr. Calhoun, declaring war to exist between Great 
Britain and the United States, 'was rapidly pushed 
through the House, passing by a vote of 79 to 49. 
In the Senate, being met not only by the opposition 
of the Federalists, but by the friends of De Witt 
Clinton, who voted with them, it passed by a ma- 
jority of only six.""' Congress, after passing an act, 

* 19- to 13. Mr. Clinton's friends professed not to oppose the 
war, but the declaration of it as premature. , 

The members from New Hampshire, most of those from Massa- 
chusetts, then including Maine, those of Connecticut, Rhode 
Island, New Jersey, and Delaware, with several from New York, 
some from Virginia and North Carolina, one from Pennsylvania, 
and three from Maryland, opposed the war. The members from 
Vermont, some from New York, all but one from Pennsylvania, 
most from Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina, all from 
South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, and Loui- 
siana, supported it. — IngersoIVs History of the War. 



A DAT OF FASTING AND PEATER. 57 

granting letters of marque, and regulating prizes 
and prize goods, authorizing the issue of Treasury 
notes to the amount of $5,000,000, and placing a 
hundred j^er cent, additional duties on imports, ad- 
journed. In accordance with a resolution of 

Jixly 8, 

Congress, the President appointed a day of 
public humiliation and prayer, in view of the con- 
flict in which the nation had entered. 



CHAPTEE II. 

Different feelings with which the' Declaration of War was received— State of the par- 
ties at the commencement— Federalists and Democrats— Their hostility— Ab- 
surd doctrines of the Federalists — Hostility of New England— Unprepared state 
of the country— Culpable neglect of the government— Comparative strength of 
the two navies — Empty state of the Treasury — Inefficiency of the Cabinet. 

The proud and sensitive American of to -day can 
scarcely comprehend liow, nnder the heavy and pro- 
tracted provocations which I have traced in the pre- 
ceding chapter, the country conld have been kept 
for so long a time from open hostilities. It wonld 
seem that the most arbitrary exercise of executive 
and legislative power, could not have prevented the 
people from rushing spontaneously to arms, and de- 
manding their rights at the bayonet's point. He is 
still more astounded, when he remembers that this 
declaration of war was received with a storm of in- 
dignation by a large party in the Union — that all 
ISTew England, with the exception of Vermont, 
anathematized it. The pulpit and the press thun- 
dered forth their maledictions, and the wrath of 



HOSTILITT OF NEW KN-GLA:C^D. 59 

heaven was invoked on the heads of its authors. 
The flags of the shipping in Boston harbor were 
hoisted at half-mast, in token of mourning, and, the 
spot rendered immortal by the patriots of the revo- 
lution, became the rallying place of the disaffected, 
and the hope of the enemy. A common welfare 
and a common comitry, could not allay this hostility, 
which strengthened instead of diminishing to the 
last, and which was so fanatical and blind in its 
violence, that it exhibited itself in the most mon- 
strous forms. Our defeats were gloried in, and the 
triumphs of our o]3pressors hailed as an evidence that 
God was on their side, while downright insubordi- 
nation, plots, and incipient rebellion, crip])led the 
efibrts of an already weak government, and swelled 
the disasters on which they fattened. 

But to one who knoAvs to what a height the spirit 
of faction will reach, nothing in all this unnatural 
hostility will seem strange. The country, at this 
time, .was divided into Federalists and Democrats, 
who were scarcely less vindictive in their ani- 
mosities, than the Whigs and Tories of the revo- 
lution. N'ew England was the furnace of Federal- 
ism, and Boston the focal point from which issued 
incessant and bitter assaults on Jefferson's, and after- 
wards on Madison's administration. Thus, in the 
most trying period of our existence since the adop- 
tion of the constitution, the country was divided and 



60 SECOND WAK WITH ENGLAND. 

torn by the fiercest spirit of faction with which it 
has ever been cursed. 

I shall not enter into a history of the feucls of these 
two parties. The principle which originally divided 
them was plain. One was for a consolidated govern- 
ment, and more power in tlie executive ; the other 
for a larger distribution of power among the sepa- 
rate states of the confederacy ; one was strongly 
conservative, and the other tending to radicalism ; 
one was for putting the strictest construction on the 
constitution, tlie other for giving it the greatest pos- 
sible latitude. These two parties had grown up 
with the republic. Their germs were seen in the 
first convention that met after the achievement of our 
independence, to settle the form of government. 
On one j)oint all were agreed — that our mutual 
safety and welfare depended on a confederacy, 
but a difference of opinion arose on the amount 
of power the separate states should confer on 
the Federal head. The constitution which was 
finally adopted was not- stringent enough to suit the 
Federalists ; but as a compromise, it was on the 
whole the best that could be secured. Besides, by 
standing firmly with the general government in ail 
conflicts with the separate states, and with the 
executive when brought in collision with Congress, 
and by the great patronage of the President, that 
power which they preferred to see directly delegated 



VIEWS OF THE FEDEKALISTS. 61 

might practically be obtained. This party nnin- 
bered among its leaders, the first statesmen of the 
land. 

]N"or should these views be considered strange, nor 
the patriotism of those who held them be assailed. 
Some of the noblest men who offered their lives and 
fortunes to the cause of liberty, looked upon the Brit- 
ish Government as the best in the world, and strip- 
ped of some of its peculiarities, and purged of its 
corruptions, would be the best that human ingenuity 
could devise. They did not originally war against 
a form of government, but to be free from its op- 
pressive acts. They did not hate, they admired the 
British constitution, and took up arms not to destroy 
it, but to enjoy the rights it guaranteed to its sub- 
jects. The government, in the principles of which 
they had been educated, was the most prosperous 
and the strongest on the globe, and common wisdom 
dictated that all its good points should be retained 
and incorporated into our own. "Why enter on an 
entirely new experiment when we had so much to 
build upon in the experience of the mother country ? 
One of the grand features of that government 
was the central power lodged in the throne; so 
ours should be characterized by a strong executive. 
The very reason, the force of which was felt by 
all, and that made a confederacy indispensable, 
viz., that a number of independent states, sepa- 



62 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

rated hy only imaginary lines, would, inevitably, 
lead to frequent collisions and final civil war 
operated tliey tli ought with equal force against a 
loose confederacy. The same results would follow. 
The wisdom of these fears is seen at the present day, 
in the separate power demanded by some of the 
states, and alas was soon exhibited by the Federalists 
themselves in the spirit of disobedience they instilled 
into the people against the general government. 

The Democrats, on the other hand, saw in all this 
a decided leaning towards a monarchy, and after- 
wards boldly accused their adversaries of conspiring 
to erect a throne in the midst of this republic. 
They were taunted with sycophancy to England, and 
a craving after English distinctions and aristocratic 
preeminence. The ji?rinciples on which the two par- 
ties rested had their birth in true patriotism, and 
their effect on the character of the Constitution was, 
doubtless, healthful. 'Nov was there anything in 
their nature adapted to awaken such vindictive hate. 
But like a strife between two individuals, the 
origin of which is soon lost sight of in the passio'i 
engendered by the conflict, so these two factions, in 
the heat of party rancor, forgot in the main the 
theories on which they split. In the proposition of 
every measure by eitlier party for the welfare of the 
state, some secret plot was supposed to be cod 
cealed. 



THE DEMOCEATS AND FRANCE. 63 

The embarrassments in which this fierce hostile 
spirit placed the administration, rendering it timid 
and cautious, was increased by the form it took. 
The levelling and radical notions of the French revo- 
lution, followed as they were by such atrocities, 
disgusted the federalists, while the democrats, though 
they denounced the violence, sympathized with the 
people, and saw in the commotion the working of 
their own principles amid the oppressed masses of 
France. They not only loved France, as their old 
ally, but they sympathized with her in her eSbrts to 
hurl back, the banded oppressors who sought to re- 
establish a hated throne in her midst. So while the 
former party stood charged with hating republics 
and wishing the domination of England, the latter 
w^as accused of seeking an alliance with the usurper 
ISTapoleon. 

Many of the reasons given by the Federalists for 
their opposition, furnish another exhibition of the 
blinding powder of party sj)irit. As to the simple 
question between England and America, it would 
seem that no sane man could doubt, that sufficient 
provocation had been given to justify us in a resort 
to arms. The impressment of six or seven thou- 
sand seamen, most of them American citizens, the 
destruction of nearly a thousand merchantmen, and 
the insults every where heaped upon our liag, were 
wrongs which could not be justified. They there- 



64 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

fore endeavored to cover tliem iij), by saying that 
the Democrats were assisting Bonaparte, whom they 
regarded as a monster in human form, and whose suc- 
cess would be the downfall of all liberty. The wrongs 
we suffered were thus lost sight of, in the greater 
wrong of crippling England in her desperate strug- 
gle with this modern Attila. Rather than endanger 
the success of that conflict, they would suffer for a 
time from the effect of her odious measures. They 
felt that England, in her conduct, was not governed 
by hostile feelings towards this country — that the 
evils she inflicted on us, were only incidental to the 
war she was waging against a tyrant. Placed in 
imminent peril, as the champion of freedom, she 
was compelled to resort to extraordinary measures, 
which though they injured us, were intended only 
to crush a common enemy. Hence the absurd in- 
terrogatory so incessantly urged by wise statesmen ; 
"Why do you not declare war against France as 
well as England ?" — as if the neglect to protect the 
interests and honor of the country in one quarter, 
rendered it obligatory on the government to neglect 
them in all quarters. The law which would redress 
one wrong, is none the less right, because he who 
administers it refuses to apply it to a second wrong. 
The injustice is in the person, not in the deed. Be- 
sides, when a nation is insulted and outraged by two 
powers, it has a perfect right to choose which it will 



INCONSISTENCT OF THE FEDERALISTS. 65 

first assault and chastise. And yet the false doc- 
trine was constantly promulgated, that we had no 
right to declare war with England, without includ- 
ing France, because she was equally criminal. In 
other words, the nation was bound to bear quietly 
the evils under which it groaned, or embrace in the 
contest, France, which stood ready to do us justice 
the moment that England would. 

It seems incredible that so absurd a dogma was 
soberly defended by clear-headed statesmen. Strictly 
applied, it w^ould require a nation, for the sake of 
consistency, to submit to wrongs that degrade and 
ruin her, or enter on a war equally ruinous, from 
its magnitude, when there was a safe mode of pro- 
cedure. Besides, all the circumstances jDointed out 
England as our antagonist. She harassed our fron- 
tiers — had taken the first step against our commerce, 
and impressed our seamen. France w^as guilty only 
of violating the laws of neutrality, wdiile she always 
stood pledged to recede fromher position, if England 
would do the same, and finally did recede, leaving 
no cause for war. The seizures under the Kambouil- 
let decree, were matters for negotiation before a 
declaration of war could be justified. 

As Jefferson was the head of the Democratic party, 
the Federalists bent all their energies against his ad- 
ministration, and on his retirement transferred their 
hostility to that of Madison. 



66 SECOND WAE WITH ENGLAND. 

But the Federalists were not all opposed to the 
war. The elder Adams, the noblest chief of Feder- 
alism, was too clear-headed and high-minded a states- 
man to let party spirit come between him and his 
country's good, and he firmly advocated it, which 
brought down on him the condemnation of many of 
his friends. Said he — " It is utterly incomprehensi- 
ble to me that a rational, social, or moral creature 
can say the war is unjust; how it can be said to be 
unnecessary is very mysterious. I have thought it' 
both just and necessary for five or six years." His 
son, John Quincy, deserted the party to uphold the 
war. On the other hand, many friends of the ad- 
ministration and several members of the cabinet 
were wholly opposed to it. There seemed to be an 
awe of England oppressing our older statesmen that 
rendered them insensible to insult, and willing to 
see the country the scorn and contempt of the 
world, for its base submission under the unparalleled 
indignities heaped upon it, rather than risk a conflict 
with that strong power. Many of the merchants, 
also, who saw that their own ruin would inevitably 
follow hostilities, were averse to it — indeed, the learn- 
ing and intelligence of the land was against it — but 
the people of the South and West, between whom 
and their country's honor and rights selfish inte- 
rests and bitter party hate did' not come, nobly sus- 
tained it. 



STATE OF THI3 TREASURY. 67 

Tlie gloomy prospect Avitli wliicli a nation always 
enters on an unequal war, w^as in our case saddened 
by these divided feelings of the people, and by the 
open animosity of several of the States. In order 
to paralyze us still more, and render our complete 
humiliation certain, provided England would strike 
a bold and decided blow, no preparation had been 
made for the struggle.. Although we had been for 
many years on the verge of war, we had done com- 
paratively nothing to meet its exigences, but stood 
and stupidly gazed into its fearful abyss. 

Tlie income from the customs, in 1811, was 
$13,000,000. This, of course, the Government knew 
would decrease in time of war, as it did, to $9,500,000.- 
Our debt at this period was $15,000,000. Yet a 
loan of $11,000,000, five millions of Treasury ISTotes, 
and the revenue from the imposts, which were 
doubled, was all the money furnished to carry on a 
war, which was to cost over thirty millions a 
year. Congress, however, did, as a last act of wis- 
dom, appropriate $100,000 to the support, ex- 
pense, exchange, &c., of prisoners of war. The 
utter blindness which had fallen on the Government 
was exhibited more fnlly in its neglect of the Navy. 
Under the ''peace establishment" of 1801, our navy 
had been reduced, and from that time to 1812, " a pe- 
riod of eleven eventful years, during which the 
nation was scarcely a day without suffering a viola- 



68 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

tion of its neutral rights, not a single frigate had 
been added to the navy." Gun-boats had been built 
for the protection, of our harbors, and the marine 
corps increased hj seven hundred men, and $200,000 
per annum was appropriated to rebuild three frigates 
that had been suffered to decay. Beyond this, 
nothing was done, and with but nine frigates 
and a few other cruising vessels of less rate, while 
seven thousand of our merchant ships were scattered 
over the ocean claiming our protection, we plunged 
into a war with a nation that had a hundred ships 
of the line in commission, and more than a thou- 
sand vessels of war which bore her flao^ of defiance 
over the deep. 

Superadded to all, the President, commander-in- 
chief of the army, was utterly ignorant of war, and 
by nature and in principle wholly repugnant to it. 
Conscious of his high and responsible position, he 
resolved to press it with vigor. But he was unfortu- 
nate in his Cabinet. Mr. Monroe, Secretary of 
State, had seen a little military service, but only in a 
subordinate capacity. Mr. Gallatin, Secretary of 
the Treasury, first opposed the declaration of war, 
and afterwards insisted that the only hope of the 
country lay in a speedy peace. Hamilton, Secre- 
tary of the ^avy, and Eustis, Secretary of War, 
were both ignorant of the duties of their respective 
departments. Pinckney, the Attorney-General, 



VIEWS OF THE CABINET. 69 

shook his head at our prospect% while Gideon Gran- 
ger, Postmaster-General,'^ openly declared that the 
war could not but end in failure, while Madison 
conducted its operations. To complete the climax, 
a General wholly unfit for his position, was to open 
the campaign. At this critical juncture, too, we had 
scarcely any representatives abroad to enlist sympa- 
thy with us in our struggle. Mr. Adams had been 
sent to Russia, and Joel Barlow was our Minister to 
France. The latter, however, died in Poland a few 
months after he received the news of our declaration 
of war, leaving us with scarcely a representative in 
Europe. 

It is not a matter of surprise that such a com- 
mencement to the war was disastrous ; the wonder 
is, that five, instead of two years of defeat, were not 
meted out to us, as a just punishment for such stu- 
pidity and neglect. Nothing but the momentous 
events transpiring in Europe, distracting the atten- 
tion of England, and rendering the presence of her 
armies necessary at home, prevented her from strik- 
ing us a blow, from which it would have taken years 
to recover. May our Government never be left to 
try such an experiment again ! 

* The Postmaster- General was not at that time a member of the 
Cabinet. 



CHAPTER BL 

Plan of the Campa"gn— General Hull sent to Deti oit- British officers first receive 
news of the declaration of war— Capture of IIi ill's baggage, etc.— Enters Canada 
and issues a proclaniition, and sends out deta^hiHints — Colonels McArthur and 
Cass advance on Maiden — Hull refuses to sustain them — Recrosses to Detroit — 
Van Homes defeat— Colonel Miller defeats the en ivay, and opens Hull's commu- 
nications— Strange conduct of Hull— Advance of tlie British— Surrender of De- 
troit — Indignation of the officers — lieview ol the Qampaign — Eising of the people 
— Harrison takes command — Advance of the array. 

In" determining the course to be pursued in carry- 
ing on hostilities the administration selected Canada 
as the only iield of operations promising any success. 
The navy was to be shut up in port, leaving pur 
seven thousand merchantmen to slip through the 
hands of British cruisers, and reach home as they 
best could. It was to be a war on land and not on 
the sea, and the conquest of Canada would undoubt- 
edly be the result of the first cam23aign. General 
Dearborn, who had se 'Vfid in the revolution, was 
appointed commander a- ihief of the northern forces, 
and soon repaired to ^ Pittsburgh , while General 



PLAN OF THE CAMPAIGN. 71 

Yan Eensjilaer, of the New York militia, and Gene- 
ral Smith were stationed on the ]N"iagara frontier. 

In anticij^ation of the war, General Hull, Governor 
of Michigan, had been ordered to occupy his terri- 
tory with an army of two thousand men, for the 
purpose of defending the north-western frontier 
from the Indians, and in case of war to obtain 
the command of Lake Erie, and thus be able to 
cooperate with Dearborn and Yan Rensalaer in the 
invasion of Canada. The command naturally de- 
scended on him as Governor of Michigan. Having, 
also, been an officer of merit under Washington, the 
appointment was considered a very judicious one. 

With part of the first regiments of United States 
infantry, and three companies of the. first regiment 
of artillery, the balance made up of Ohio volunteers 
and Michigan militia, and one company of rangers, 
he left Dayton, in Ohio, the first of June, just 
eighteen days before the declaration of war. On 
the tenth, he was joined at Hrbana by Colonel Mil- 
ler, w'ith the fourth regiment of infantry, composed 
of three hundred men. Here the little army entered 
the untrodden wilderness, and slowly cut its way 
through the primeval forest, two hundred miles in 
extent, to Detroit. It reached Maumee the latter 
part of June, where, on the second of July, Hull re- 
ceived the news of the declaration of war. The let- 
ter of the Secretary of War had been fourteen days 



72 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

reachiug liim. The Britisli officer, at Maiden, liad 
been officially notified of it two days hefore. " On 
tliis occasion, the British were better served. Prevost 
received notice of it, on the S-ith of June, at Que- 
bec. Brock on the 26th, at l^ewark. St. George 
on the 30th, at Maiden ; and Eoberts on the 8th of 
July, at St. Joseph's. But, a fact still more extra- 
ordinary than the celerity of these transmissions, is, 
that the information thus rapidly forwarded to the 
British commanders, at Maiden and St. Joseph, was 
received under envelopes, ft-anked by the Secretary 
of the American Treasury.""^ But, if the Secretary 
of the Treasury had been the victim of a shrewd 
trick, the Secretary of War had commenced his career 
by a most egregious blunder. On the day of the 
declaration of war, he wrote two letters to General 
Hull, one announcing the fact, and the other making 
no mention of it. The latter despatched by a special 
messenger, reached the General on the 24th of June. 
The former being intrusted to the public mail as far 
as Cleveland, thence to be forwarded as it best could, 
did not arrive at head quarters till the 2nd of July, 
or two days after the neT\^ which it contained had 
been received by the British officer at Maiden. f By 
this unpardonable carelessness of the Secretary of 
"War, General Hull not only lost all the advantage 

* Yide Armstrong's Notices of the War of 1812. 

f Vide Hull's Memoirs, and Armstrong's Notices of the War. 



LOSS OF hull's stokes, ETC. 73 

to be derived from liaving the knowledge of the 
declaration of hostilities six days before the enemy, 
but he had to suffer from the preparations which 
this previous information gave the latter time to make. 

The first disaster that resulted from this culpa- 
bjiity of the Secretary of War, was the loss of Gene- 
ral Hull's baggage, ''hospital stores, intrenching 
tools, and sixty men," together with the instructions 
of the government, and the returns of the army. 
Having received a letter from the Secretary of War, 
dated as late as the 18th of June, in which he was 
urged to march with all possible despatch to De- 
troit, and containing no announcement of a rupture, 
he natm-ally supposed that the two governments 
were stilT at peace, and so to carry out the instruc- 
tions of the secretary, and expedite matters, he 
shipped his baggage, stores, &c., to go by water to 
Detroit, while he took his army by land. But tlie 
< ay previous the British commander, at Maiden, 
had received ofiicial notice of the declaration of war, 
and when the packet containing the stores, &c., 
attempted to pass the fort, it was stopped by a 
boat containing a British officer and six men, and 
its cargo seized. 

This first advantage gained over him so unexpect- 
®^V? by the enemy, had a most depressing effect on 
the General. Instead of rousing him to greater ex- 
ertion, it filled him with doubt and uncertainty. He 
4 



Y4: SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

had a dozen subordinates, either of whom, with that 
army, would in a few days have seized Maiden, and 
recovered all he had lost, and inflicted a heavy blow 
on the enemy. 

At length, however, he seemed to awake to the 
propriety of doing something to carry out the objects 
of the campaign, and on the 12th crossed the De- 
troit River and marched to Sandwich, only eighteen 
miles from Maiden. But here, with an unobstructed 
road leading to the enemy before him, he paused 
and issued a proclamation to the Canadians, and 
sent out detachments which penetrated sixty miles 
into the province. The friendly disposition of the 
inhabitants was apparent, while the Indians were 
overawed into .a neutral position. 

Four days after crossing the river. General Hull 
sent Colonels Cass and Miller, with a detachment of 
two hundred and eighty men, towards Maiden. These 
gallant officers pushed to the river Canards, within 
four miles of the fort, and driving the British ]3ickets 
who held the bridge from their position, took j)os- 
session of it, and immediately dispatched a messen- 
ger to General Hull, announcing their success. 
Tliey described the occupation of the post as of the 
utmost importance in carrying out the plan of the 
campaign, and begged that if the army could not be 
moved there, that they might be allowed to hold it 
themselves — the General sending reinforcements as 



TIMIDITY OF HULL. 75 

occasion demanded. Instead of being gratified at 
this advantage gained over the enemy, General Hull 
seemed irritated, condemned the attack as a breach 
of orders, and directed the immediate return of the 
detachment. These brave officers persisting in their 
request, he gave them permission to retain the posi- 
tion, provided they were willing to do so on their 
own responsibility, and without any aid from him. 

This he knew they w^ould not do. Such a propo- 
sition, from the commanding officer, indicated a 
weakness of judgment, and a willingness to resort 
to the most transparent trickery to escape responsi- 
bility, that no apology can excuse. From the state- 
ments of the British afterwards, it appeared that 
the approach of this detachment filled the garrison 
with alarm ; the shipping was brought up to the 
wharves, and the loading of baggage commenced, 
preparatory to flight. On two sides the fort was in 
a dilapidated state, while seven hundred men, of 
whom only one hundred were regular troops, consti- 
tuted the entire garrison. From the panic which 
the approach of Cass and Miller created, there is no 
doubt that the appearance of the whole army, of 
two thousand men before the place, would have 
been followed by an immediate surrender. One 
thing is certain, if General Hull supposed that a gar- 
rison of seven hundred men behind such works, 
could make a successful defeace against nearly three 



76 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

times their number, lie had no right to regard his 
strong position at Detroit, when assailed by only an 
equal force, untenable. Either Maiden could have 
been taken, or Detroit was impregnable. The troops 
felt certain of success, and were impatient to be led to 
the attack, but he pronounced it unsafe to advance 
without heavy artillery ; besides, he wished to wait 
the effect of his proclamation on the enemy. The 
Indians and Canadian militia, he said, had begun to 
desert, and in a short time the force at Maiden might 
be " materially weakened." Two thousand men 
sat quietly down to wait for this miserable garrison 
of seven hundred, six hundred of whom were Cana- 
dian militia and Indians, to dwindle to less force, be- 
fore they dared even to approach within shot. The 
army was kept here three weeks, till two twenty- 
four pounders and three howitzers could be mounted 
on wheels strong enough to carry them, and yet a 
few weeks after, behind better works than tliose 
of Maiden, and with a force fully equal to that of 
liis adversary, he felt authorized to surrender, though 
the largest guns brought forward to break down his 
defences, were six pounders. 

The cannon at length, being mounted, were with the 
ammunition placed on floating batteries, ready to 
move on Maiden, when the order to march was coun- 
termanded, and the army, instead of advancing 
against the enemy, recrossed the river to Detroit, 



77 

over which it had passed a few weeks before to the 
conquest of Canada. General' Hull had issued a 
proclamation, sent out two detachments, mounted 
two heavy cannon and three howitzers, and then 
inarched back again. Such were the astonishing 
results accomplished by the first grand army of in- 
vasion. 

The gathering of the Indian clans, and reinforce- 
ments pouring into tlie British garrison, had alarmed 
him. The news seemed to take him by suprise, as 
though it for the first time occurred to him that dur- 
ing these three or four weeks in which he remained 
idle, the enemy might possibly be active. 

The surrender, at this time, of Fort Mackinaw, 
situated on the island of the same name in the straits 
between Lakes Huron and Michigan, was a severe 
blow to him, for it opened the flood-gates to all the 
Indians, Canadians and British in the north-west. 
This fort was the key to that section of the country, 
and the grand depot of the fur companies. By its posi- 
tion it shielded General Hull from all attack in that 
direction. Lieutenant Hanks commanded it, with a 
garrison of sixty men. As soon as the British com- 
mander of St. Joseph's, just above it, received news 
of the declaration of war, he took with him some 
two hundred Canadians and British, and four hun- 
dred Indians, and suddenly appearing before the fort 
demanded its surrender. This was the first intima- 



T8 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

tion to Lieutenant Hanks of tlie commencement of 
L-Ostilities. He capitulated v/itliout offering any 
resistance, and the Indians at once rallied aromid 
the British standard. Here was another blunder, a 
double one. In the first place, private enterorise had 
outstripped the action of Government. The British 
officer at St. Jose]3h's, though more remote than 
Mackinaw, received the declaration of war nine 
days before it reached the American commander at 
the latter place, or rather. Lieutenant Hanks did not 
receive it at all, either from the Government or 
General Hull. Colonel Koberts, of St. Joseph's, 
with his band of Canadians and Indians, was kind 
enough to convey the information. 

It is surprising that General Hull, after his expe- 
rience, did not at once provide that a post so vital 
to him, should not become the victim of the same 
criminal negligence vv^hich had paralyzed his efforts. 
Fifteen days intervened between his receiving the 
notification of war, and the taking of Fort Mackinaw, 
and yet no messenger from him, the Governor of the 
Territory, and commander-in-chief of the forces in 
that section, reached the garrison. Were it not for 
the calamitous results which followed, the whole 
campaign might be called a " comedy of errors." 

Three days previous, however, to the retreat of 
Hull from Canada, he committed another error which 
increased his embarrassments. Proctor, who had 



DEFEAT OF VAlf HOKNE. 79 

arrived at Maiden with reinforcements, threw a 
small detachment across the river to Brownstown, to 
intercept any provisions that might be advancing 
from Ohio to the army. Captain Brush, who was 
on the way with the mail, flour and cattle, was thus 
stopped at the Eiver Eaisin. To open the commu- 
nication and bring up the provisions, Major Yan 
Home was dispatched with two hundred volunteers 
and militia. But the detachment, marching without 
sufficient caution, was led into ambush, and utterly 
defeated. Only about one-half returned to the army. 
Both Gen. Hull and Major Yan Home were to blame 
in this affair — the former for not sending a larger de- 
tachment, when he knew the enemy must be on the 
march, while at the same time he was ignorant of 
his force. This error is the more culpable, because 
he did not expect an immediate attack ; for, after 
the detachment was despatched, he remained qui- 
etly in Canada, and then crossed at his leisure to 
Detroit. He therefore could, without danger, have 
spared a larger force, and should have done so, es- 
pecially when the want of provisions was one' of the 
evils he would be called upon to encounter. On the 
otlier hand. Major Yan Home should have heeded 
the information he received, that the enemy were in 
advance, in position, and not allowed his little army 
to rush into an ambuscade. 

General Hull's position had now become suffi- 



80 SECOND WAR WITFT ENGLAND. 

ciently embarrassing. "Tlie whole northern hive 
was in motion." Reinforcements were hastening to 
the support of Maiden ; his communications on the 
lake were cut off by British vessels, while the defeat 
of Yan Home announced that his communications 
by land were also closed. The latter he knew must 
be opened at all hazards, and Colonel Miller was 
dispatched on the route which Yan Home had taken 
with four hundred men to clear the road to the river 
Raisin. Leaving Detroit on the 8th of August, he 
next day in the afternoon, as he was approaching 
Brownstown, came upon the enemy covered with a 
breast work of logs and brandies of trees, and pro- 
tected on one side by the Detroit river, and on the 
other by swamps and thickets. The British and Ca- 
nadians were commanded by Muir, and the Indians 
by Tecumseh. Captain Snelling leading the advance 
guard approached to within half musket shot, before 
he discovered the enemy. A fierce and deadly fire 
w^as suddenly opened on him, which he sustained 
without flinching, till Colonel Miller converting his 
order of march into order of battle, advanced to his 
su23port. Seeing, however, how destructive the fire 
of the enemy was, while the bullets of his own men 
buried themselves for the most part in the logs of 
the breastwork ; perceiving, also, some symptoms 
of wavering. Miller determined to carry the works 
by the bayonet. The order to charge was received 



VICTORY OF MILLEE. 81 

with loud cheers ; and the nexfmoment the troops 
poured fiercely over the breastwork, and routing 
the British and Canadians pressed swiftly on their 
retiring footsteps. Tecumseh, however, maintained 
his post, and Yan Home, who commanded the right 
flank of the American line, supposing from his stub- 
born resistance that it would require more force than 
he possessed to dislodge him, sent to Colonel Miller 
for reinforcements. The latter immediately ordered 
a halt, and with a reluctant heart turned from the 
fugitives now almost within his grasp, and hastened 
to the relief of his subordinate. On arriving at the 
breastwork, he found the Indian chief in full flight. 
He then started again in pursuit, but arrived in view 
of the enemy only to see him on the water floating 
away beyond his grasp. 

He, however, had established the communication 
between the army and the river Raisin, and dis- 
patched Captain Snellingto Detroit with the account 
of the victory, and a request for boats to remove the 
wounded, and bring provisions for the living, and 
reinforcements to supply the place of the dead and 
disabled. General Hull immediately sent Colonel 
McArthur wnth a hundred men and boats, but with 
provisions sufiicient only for a single meal." 

Colonel Miller was some twenty miles from the 

supplies, but not deeming it prudent with the slender 

* Miller's testimony on the trial of Hull. 
4* 



82 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

reinforcements lie had received, and the still scantier 
provisions, to jDroceed, remained on the battle field, 
and sent another messenger declaring that the com- 
munication was open, and it required onlj a few 
more men and a sujDply of provisions, to keep it so. 
The next evening, the messenger returned, bringing 
instead of provisions a peremptory order to return 
to Detroit. It is doubtful whether Colonel Miller 
ought not to have advanced without waiting for fur- 
ther reinforcements, and formed a junction with 
Captain Brush, who had an abundance of provisions, 
and a detachment of a hundred and fifty men. But, 
after the communications were established, he did 
not probably see- so much necessity for dispatch as 
for security. But General Hull seemed to be labor- 
ing under a species of insanity. After sending forth 
two detachments to open his communications, and 
finally succeeding, he deliberately closed them again, 
and shut from his army all those provisions, the 
want of which he a few days after gave as a reason 
for surrendering. The rapid concentration of the ene- 
my's forces, in front of him, might have been given as 
a sufficient cause for suddenly calling in all his troops 
to defend Detroit, had he not two days after sent 
Colonel McArthur, accompanied by Cass^ with a 
detachment of four hundred men, to obtain by a back, 
circuitous and almost wholly unknown route through 



APPROACH OF BROCK. 83 

the woods that which Colonel Miller had secured, 
and then been compelled to relinquish. 

When General Hull recrossed the river to 

All"". 7. 

* Detroit, he left some hundred and nft j, conval- 
escents and all, " to hold possession of that part of 
Canada," which he had so gallantly won, ''to defend 
the post to the last extremity against musketry, but 
if overpowered by artillery to retreat."* In the 
mean time. General Brock, the commander of the 
British forces, approached, and began to erect a bat- 
tery opposite Detroit to protect his army, and cover 
it in crossins: the river. Not a shot was fired to in- 
terrupt his proceedings, no attempt made to destroy 
his shipping which had arrived. Daliba offered 
" to clear the enemy from the opposite shores from 
the lower batteries," to which General Hull replied, 
" I will make an agreement with the enemy, that if 
they will not fire on me I will not fire on them." 
Major Jessup asked permission to cross the river and 
spike the guns, but this was considered a too despe- 
rate undertaking. In short, every project that was 
proposed was rejected, and the twenty-four pounders 
and the howitzers slept dumb on their carriages, in 
the midst of these hostile preparations of the enemy. 
At length, on the morning of the 15th, a messen- 
ger arrived from General Brock demanding an im- 
mediate surrender of the town and fort. To this sum- 
* McAfee's History. 



84 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

mons Hull replied in a decided and spirited manner; 
but this did not seem to daunt the British commander. 
He immediately opened his fire from a newly erected 
battery, which, after knocking down some chimneys, 
and disabling a few soldiers, finally ceased at ten 
o'clock in the evening. The next morning it re-com- 
menced, and under cover of its harmless thunder the 
British, in broad day-light, commenced crossing a 
river more than three thousand feet wide. This pre- 
sumptuous attempt succeeded without the loss of a 
man. The troops then formed in column twelve 
deep, and marching along the shore, soon emerged 
into view, about five hundred yards from the fort. 
The opposing forces were nearly equal, but the 
position of the Americans gave them vastly the 
advantage. The fort proper was of great strength, 
surrounded by a deep, wide ditch, and strongly pal- 
isaded with an exterior battery of two twenty-four 
pounders. It was occupied by four hundred men, 
while four hundred more lay behind a high picket 
fence, which flanked the approach to it. Three 
hundred more held the town. Against this formida- 
ble array, General Brock, preceded by five light 
pieces of artillery, boldly advanced. He did not 
even have a vanguard, and rode alone in front of his 
column. To the most common observer, they were 
marching on certain and swift destruction. The mili- 
tia who had never been under fire, were eager for 



SUERENDEK OF HULL. 85 

the conflict, so confident were they of victory. On 
swept the apparently doomed column upon which 
every eye was sternly bent, while every heart beat 
with intense anxiety to hear the command to fire. 
In this moment of thrilling excitement, a white flag 
was lifted above the works, and an order came for all 
the troops to withdraw from the outer posts and stack 
their arms. Snch a cry of indignation as followed, 
probably never before assailed the ears of a com- 
mander. Lieutenant Anderson in a paroxysm of 
rage, broke his sword over one of his guns and burst 
into tears. The shameful deed was done, and so 
anxious was General Hull that all should receive the 
benefit of this capitulation, that he included in it 
Colonels McArthur and Cass, and their detachment 
whom he had sent to the river Raisin, together wath 
that entrusted with the supplies. 

To enhance the regret and shame of this sudden 
surrender, it was soon discovered that McArthur 
and Cass, having heard the cannonading twenty-four 
hours before, had returned, and at the moment the 
white flag was raised were only a mile and a half from 
the fort, and advancing so as to take the enemy in rear. 
The result of a defence would have been the entire de- 
struction of the British army. Ah ! what a difl*erent 
scene was occurring on this same day, in another liem-- 
isphere. On this very morning I^apoleon crossed 
the Dnieper, on his way to Moscow, and Murat 



86 SECOND WAE WITH ENGLAND. 

and I^ey, at the head of eighteen thousand splendid 
cavalry, fell on the Russian rear guard, only sis 
thousand strong. Yet this comparatively small 
band, composed like most of the troops under Hull, 
of new levies, never thought of surrendering. First 
in two squares, and then in one solid square they 
continued their retreat all day — sometimes broken, 
yet always re-forming and presenting the same fringe 
of glittering steel, and the same adamantine front. 
Forty times were the apparently resistless squadrons 
hurled upon them, yet they still maintained their 
firm formation, and at night eifected a junction 
with the main army, though with the loss of more 
than one-sixth of their number. It was to be left to 
Scott and Brown and Miller and Jessup and Jack- 
son, to show that Russian serfs were not braver 
troops than American freemen. 

It sometimes happens that events widely different 
in their character, and j)i'esenting still wider con- 
trast in the magnitude and grandem- of the circum- 
stances that attend them, are in their remote results 
alike, both in character and in their efiect on the 
destiny of the world. Thus, six days after our decla- 
ration of war, ^Napoleon crossed the Niemen, on his 
march to Moscow. This first step on Russian terri- 
tory was the signal for a long train of events to arise, 
w^hich in the end should dash to earth the colossal 
power of JSTapoleon, while our movement was to 



REVIEW OF THE CAMPAIGN. 87 

break the spell whicli made Great Britain mistress 
of the seas ; and two nations, one an unmixed des- 
potism and the other a pure repu])lic, from that mo- 
ment began to assume a prominence they never be- 
fore held, and from that time on, have been the only 
powers which have rapidly increased in resources and 
strength, till each threatens, in time, to swallow up 
its own hemispliere. 

Much has been written of this campaign of Hull, 
and in the controversy, statistics differ as widely as 
opinions. He was tried by Court Martial, of which 
Martin Van Buren was Judge Advocate, acquitted 
of treason, but found guilty of cowardice and sen- 
tenced to be shot. Being pardoned by the Presi- 
dent, his life was saved, but he went forth a blighted 
and ruined man. 

On many points there is room for a diversity of 
judgment, but one thing is certain. General Hull 
was unfit for the station to which he was assigned. 
He had been a gallant subordinate, officer in the 
revolution, but a man may be a good major, or even 
colonel, but a bad commander-in-chief. There are 
many officers who are fit only to act under orders, 
whom personal danger never agitates, but who are 
unnerved by responsibility. Let the latter rest on 
some other person and they will cheerfully encounter 
the peril. Hull may have been one of these, at least 
it seems more rational to attribute a portion of his 



88 SECOOT> WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

conduct to some mental defect rather than to cow- 
ardice. It is hard to affix such a stain on a man 
who moved beside Washington in the perilous march 
on Trenton — stood firmly amid the hottest fire at 
Princeton — gallantly led his men to the charge at 
Bemis' Heights, and faced without flinching the fiery 
sleet that swept the column pressing up the rugged 
heights of Stony Point. Gray hairs do not make a 
coward of such a man, though they should render 
him imbecile. 

It is not easy at this , remote period to appreciate 
the difficulties of the position in which Hull eventu- 
ally found himself. At first he refused to take com- 
mand of the expedition, but being urged by the 
government, accepted, though with the express un- 
derstanding that in case of hostilities, he was to be 
sustained both by a fleet on Lake Erie, and an army 
operating on the northern and western frontier of 
New York. He knew that the conquest of Cana- 
dian territory would be of slight importance, if the 
lake and river communication was controlled by the 
enemy, for they could pass their troops from one 
point to another with great rapidity, cut off his sup- 
plies and reinforcements, and hem him in till a force 
sufficient to overwhelm him was concentrated. 

On arriving near Maiden, he was astounded to 
hear that the enemy had received notice of the war 
before him, and hence had time to make more 



89 

or less preparations. The second blow was the loss 
of hospital stores, intrenching tools, array baggage, 
private papers, &c. The third came in the fall of 
Mackinaw, thus removing the only barrier that kept 
back the northern hordes. He knew the enemy bad 
possession of the water communication, and were 
therefore able to threaten his retreat. Dearborn, who 
ought to have been pressing the British on the ]S"iag- 
ara frontier, and thus attracted their forces from Mai- 
den, had entered into an armistice with the Governor 
of Canada, leaving the latter at full liberty to 
reinforce tbe troops opposed to Hull, a privilege of 
which he was not slow to avail himself. There was 
not a gleam of sunshine in the whole gloomy prospect 
that spread out before the American commander. 
His own army diminishing, while that of his adver- 
sary was rapidly increasing — behind him a wilderness 
two hundred miles in extent, his situation was dis- 
heartening enough to make a strong man sad. The 
difficulties in which he found himself environed must 
always produce one of two effects on every man — 
either rouse him to ten-fold diligence and effort and 
daring, or sink him in corresponding inactivity and 
despondency. There can be no middle state. That the 
latter was the effect produced on General Hull, there 
can be no doubt. He proved plainly that he was 
not one of those whom great emergencies develope 
into an extraordinary character worthy to command 



90 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

and worthy to be obeyed. The very first misfortiine 
unmanned him, and from that hour to the sad close 
of the campaign, when he acted at all he did nothing 
but heap blunder on blunder. His mind having 
once got into a morbid state, his p6sition and his pros- 
pects appeared to his diseased imagination ten times 
more desperate than they really were. 

With the failure of General Dearborn to invade 
Canada from the IT^w York frontier, and more es- 
pecially with the lakes entirely under the control 
of the enemy, his campaign, according to all human 
calculations, must prove a failure. Detroit must fall, 
and Michigan be given up to the enemy. The only 
chance by which this catastrophe could have been 
prevented, was offered by General Brock when he 
crossed the river to storm Detroit. If Hull had pos- 
sessed a spark of genius or military knowledge, he 
would have seen in this rash movement of his enemy, 
the avenue opened for his release, and the sure pre- 
cursor of his fortunes. With that broad river cut- 
tin 2: off its retreat, the British armv would have 
been overthrown ; provisions and arms obtained, 
and the enemy received a check which in all proba- 
bility would have enabled Hull to sustain himself 
till reinforcements arrived. But he had made up 
his mind to surrender, and thus save Detroit from 
the cruelties of the savage, and the enemy could not 
commit a blunder of sufficient mao-nitude to arouse 



91 

his hopes and spur him into resistance ; and having 
scarcely heard the report of his guns from first to 
last, he veiled the banner of his country in the 
dust. 

This explanation of his conduct would correspond 
more with his former life, than to admit the charge 
of either treason or cowardice, and be perfectly 
satisfactory, but for the mode of his surrender. 
There is a mystery here, that ^either General Hull 
nor his friends have ever cleared up. After having 
shown the imbecility of government, by which 
failure became inevitable, they stop as though their 
task was done. But the criminality of government 
being conceded, and the fall of Detroit acknowledged 
to be an inevitable consequence, it does not follow 
that the surrender of the army was necessary. Why, 
after Colonel Miller opened the communications with 
supplies and reinforcements, did not Greneral Hull re- 
treat at once ? The enemy would not have attempted 
a pursuit through that wilderness. With a rear guard 
left to man the works, he could have gained two days' 
march, while Detroit was able to make as good terms 
without him as with him. He could have had no 
reason for staying, except the determination to hold 
his position and defend Detroit to the last. If he 
had not fully resolved to do so, the way of retreat 
was open, and he was bound to occupy it ; if he had^ 
why did he not keep to that determination % ISTo new 



92 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

elements had entered into tlie struggle — no nnfor- 
seen events occurred to affect the conclusions he had 
adopted. The enemy w^as not in greater force than 
he imagined, but on the contrary, in less. He under- 
stood the strength, of his own position ; his troops 
were never in greater spirits ; why then did he so 
suddenly and totally change his purpose ? It is im- 
possible to reconcile this grievous inconsistency in 
his conduct. 'Nov ig^this all that is dark and myste- 
rious; supposing new conditions had occurred to 
alter his determination, and affect the relative posi- 
tion of the armies — an entirely new order of things had 
taken place, requiring another mode of ]3rocedure 
than the one adopted by himself and the army; why 
did he not call a council of war, and submit those 
new features to its consideration ? When his troops 
wished to attack Maiden, he considered the question 
so momentous as to require a council of his officers. 
When a simple repulse was the only misfortune that 
could happen, he regarded it his duty to take advice 
from his subordinates ; but when it came to an abso- 
lute surrender of his whole army, no such obligation 
was felt. This man, who was so afraid to compro- 
mise his force, lest it should meet with a repulse, did 
not in the end hesitate to surrender it entire, and cover 
it with dishonor on his own responsibility. Military 
history rarely records such an event as this, and never 
unless either treason or cowardice was apparent 



93 

as noonday. Not a faltering word — not a doubtful 
movement — not a sign of flinching, till the white 
flag was seen flaunting its cowardly folds before the 
banner of his country. No general has a right to 
assume such a responsibility, at least, until the ques- 
tion has been submitted to his officers. He may 
peril his troops in an unsuccessful attack, but never 
dishonor them without consulting their wishes. The 
act was that of a timorous commander, or of a 
bold and unscrupulous man, like Gorgey. The 
rash and unmilitary advance of Brock, which not- 
withstanding its success, met the disapproval of his 
superior, seems wholly unaccountable, except some 
one, in the confidence of Hull, had whis|)ered "in his 
ears, that the latter intended no defence. 

The manner of surrender, conflicts with the expla- 
nation of the act itself, and involves the conduct of 
Hull in a mystery. To tell us he was neither a 
traitor nor a coward, and yet leave those violations 
of military rules and contradictions of character un- 
explained and unreconciled, is to leave the same pain- 
ful doubt on the mind as though no defence had 
been attempted. A morbid state of mind equiva- 
lent to insanity, thus changing for a time the whole 
character of the man, is the only charitable con- 
struction. 

The blame, however, was not distributed impar- 
tially. The Secretary of War should have been im- 



94 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAOT). 

mediately removed from office, Dearborn withdrawn 
as commander-in-chief, and the whole administration 
thoroughly overhauled, and its policy changed. As 
it was, the swelling curses of the land smote the sin- 
gle head of General Hull. The news of his surren- 
-der fell on the conntry like a thunderbolt at noon-day. 
The march of his army had been watched with in- 
tense interest, but with scarcely any misgivings. So 
large a force appearing with the declaration of war in 
their hands on the weak and unprepared posts of the 
north-western frontier was expected to sweep every- 
thing before it. Its defeat was considered impossible, 
its entire, shameful surrender, therefore, could hardly 
be credited. The nation was stunned, but with sur- 
prise, not fear, at least that portion west of the Alle- 
ghanies. Indignation and a spirit of fierce retaliation 
swelled every bosom. But eastward, where party 
spirit and divided feelings and views, had rendered 
the war party cautious and timid, the effect was for 
a time paralyzing. If defeated at the outset, while 
England could bring into the field scarcely any but 
her colonial force, what would be our prospects of 
success when her veterans drilled in the wars of the 
continent should appear? The government, however, 
awoke to the vastness of the undertaking, but still 
remained ignorant of the means by which it was to 
be accomplished. 

To save the north-western frontier, now laid 



Harbison's ariht. 95 

open to the incursions of savages, Kentucky, Ohio, 
; Pennsylvania and Yirginia, sent forth crowds of vol- 
unteers, eager to redeem the tarnished reputation of 
the country. Several members of Congress from 
j Kentucky enlisied as private soldiers — the young 
I and ardent Clay was seen at the musters, thrilling the 
j young men who surrounded him, as though he 
I wielded the fiery cross in his hands. Ten thousand 
I men were raised in an incredible short space of time, 
i and placed under General Harrison, the hero of Tip- 
! pecanoe. To these were added portions of the 17th and 
1 19th regiments of regular infantry and two regiments 
I from Kentucky and Ohio, for government was 
I apparently determined to make up for the insufficient, 
i niggardly expenditures of the first campaign by its 
[useless prodigality in preparing for the second. 
1 Four thousand meh raised by order of Gov. 
I Shelby, of Kentucky, all mounted on horseback, 
I were put under Major General Hopkins, of the mili- 
itia, who, jointly with three regiments already sent to 
i Yincennes bv Harrison, were to defend the frontiers 
lof Indiana and Illinois. 
! Reachino; Fort Harrison, which Captain, after- 

iOct.lO. r 7 

wards General Taylor, with scarcely thirty 
iefficient men, had gallantly defended against the 
iattacks of four or five hundred Indians, this motley 
|cj-owd of horsemen started on the 14:th for the Indian 
ivillaoj^js which lay along the Illinois and Wabash 



96 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

rivers. But the long and tedious march and the un- 
comfortable bivouacs by night, obscured the visions 
of glory that had dazzled them, and the fourth day, 
the enthusiasm which from the first had been rapidly 
subsiding, reached zero, and open mutiny seized the 
entire body of the troops. A major rode up to Gen- 
eral Hopkins and peremptorily ordered him to wheel 
about. The General refusing to obey, he was compelled 
next day to constitute the rearguard of this splendid 
corps of cavalry, whose horses' tails were towards 
the enemy and their heads towards Fort Harrison. 

In the mean time, Harrison, with about 2,500 

Sept. 13. 

men reached Fort Deposit, and relieved the gar- 
rison composed of seventy men who had gallantly with- 
stood the attacks of hordes of Indians. Here he paused 
till the arrival of other troo})S, and occupied the time 
in sendino^ out various detachments ao-ainst the In- 
dian villages, all of which, were successful. 

On the 18th, Harrison returned to Fort Wayne, 
where he met General Winchester, with reinforce- 
ments from Ohio and Kentucky, in all about two 
thousand men. Winchester ranked Harrison, and 
the latter finding himself superseded, was about to 
retire. The President, however, restored him to 
his original command, and he continued his march 
northward. In the latter part of tliic month 
he was at Fort Defiance. Leaving his troops 
there, he returned to the settlements to organize and 



97 

hasten up the forces designed to constitute the cen- 
tre and right wing of his army. Abandoning his 
original plan of boldly marching on Detroit and re- 
capturing it at once, he determined to advance in 
three difierent columns, by as many difterent routes, 
to the Miami Rapids, thence move suddenly to 
Brownstown, cross the river and seize Maiden, which 
had so annoyed Hull. All along the highways 
and rude half-trodden paths, and skirting the banks 
of rivers that rolled through nothing but primeval 
forests from their sources to the lakes, squads of 
men, some mounted, some in uniform, but the most 
part in the rough frontiersman costume, were seen 
toiling northward, to avenge the disgrace of Hull. 
Their camp-fires lit up the wilderness by night, and 
their boisterous mirth filled it with echoes by day. 
A more motley band of soldiers were never seen 
swarming to battle. 



CHAPTEE lY. 

Operations pn the New Ywk frontier -Battle of Queenstown— Death of Brock- 
Scott a prisoner — General Smythe's Proclamation and abortive attempts — Cursed 
by the army — Duel with General Porter — Eetires in disgrace — Dearborn's move- 
ments and fiiilures— Eeview of the campaign on the New York frontier— Charac- 
ter of the officers and soldiers. 

While Harrison's forces were tlius scattered amid 
the forests and settlements of Oliio and Indiana, the 
army along the l^iagara frontier had begnn to move. 
At this time every eye in the land was turned north- 
ward. That long chain of Mediterraneans, whose 
shores were fringed with hostile armies, from Sack- 
ett's Harbor to where they lost themselves in the 
forests of the north-west, became an object of the 
deepest interest. Everj^ rumor that the wind bore 
across the wilderness, or that, following the chains of 
settlements along the rivers reached the haunts of 
civilization, was caught up *%vith avidity. The dis- 
comfiture of Hull had filled every heart with trem- 
bling solicitude for the fate of our other armies. 
Defeat in the west, and incomprehensible delays in 
the east, had changed the Oanadas from a weak pro- 



99 

viuce, to be overrun by tlie first invader, into a Gib- 
raltar against wliicli tlie entire strength of the nation 
must be hurled. 

I have stated before that Dearborn, commanding 
the forces on the Niagara and northern frontier, 
instead of making a diversion in t^vor of Hull, hy 
crossing the N'iagara and drawing attention to him- 
self, had been coaxed into an armistice with Provost, 
the English Governor, in which Hull had be'Si left 
out. This armistice was asked and granted, on the 
ground that dispatches had been received, announc- 
ino; the revocation of the orders in council. One 
great cause of the war being thus removed, it was 
hoped that peace might be restored.- The result was 
as we have seen; the British commander immedi- 
ately dispatched Brock to Maiden, to capture Hull, 
from which successful expedition he was able to re- 
turn before the armistice was broken off. General 
Dearborn clung to this absurd armistice, as if it w^ere 
the grandest stroke of di]3lomacy conceivable. He 
carried his attachment so far as to disobey the ex- 
press command of his Government, to break it off. 
At length, however, this nightmare ended, and 
August preparations were made for a vigorous autum- 

24:. 

nal campaign. 
Tlie northern army, numbering between eight and 
ten thousand soldiers, was principally concentrated 
•It two points. One portion was encamped near 



100 SECOND WAli WITH ENGLAND. 

Plattsburg and Greenbiisli, commanded bj General 
Dearborn, in person, tlie otlier at Lewistown, was 
mider the direction of General Stephen Yan Rensa- 
laer, of the I^ew York militia, while 1,500 regulars, 
under General Smythe, lay at Buffalo, a few miles 
distant. There were a few^ troops stationed also at 
Ogdensburg, Sackett's Harbor, and Black Rock. 

The discontent produced by Hull's surrender, and 
the loud complaints against the inaction of the 
northern army, together with the consciousness that 
something must be done to prevent the first year of 
w^ar from closing in unmixed gloom, induced General 
Yan Kehsalaer to make a bold push into Canada, 
and by a sudden blow attempt to wTest Jamestown 
from the enemy, and there establish his winter 
quarters. 

The cutting out of two English brigs"^ from under 
the guns of Fort Erie, by Lieutenant Elliot with some 
fifty volunteers, created an enthusiasm in the Ameri- 
can camp of which General Yan Rensalaer deter- 
mined to avail himself. 

The command of the expedition was given to 
his cousin. Col. Solomon Yan Hensalaer, a brave 
and chivalric ofiicer, who on the 13th of October, 
at the head of three hundred militia, accompanied 

* One of those, the Caledonia, afterwards did good service as a 
part of the fleet of Perry on Lake Erie. The other having gone 
aground, was burnt, to prevent recapture. 



VAN EENSALAER ENTERS CANADA. 101 

by Col. Clirjstie with three hundred regnhir troops, 
prepared to cross the river. It wanted still an hour to 
daylight when the two columns stood in battle array 
on the shore. Through carelessness, or inability to 
obtain them, there were not sufficient boats to take 
all over at once, and they were compelled to cross in 
detachments. The boat which carried Col. Chrystie 
being badly managed, was swept away by the cur- 
rent, and finally compelled to re-land on the Ameri- 
can shore. This gallant officer was wounded while 
thus drifting in the stream, yet soon after he made 
another attempt to cross, and succeeding, led his 
troops nobly until the close of the action. 

Col. Yan Rensalaer having effected a landing, 
formed on the shore and marched forward. The 
whole force at this time did not exceed one hundred 
men. These, however, were led up the bank where 
they halted to wait the junction of the other troops that 
kept arriving, a few boat loads at a time. But day- 
light now having dawned, the exposed position of 
this detachment rendered it a fair mark for the enemy, 
who immediately opened their fire upon it. In a 
few minutes every commissioned officer was either 
killed or wounded. Col. Yan Eensalaer finding 
that the bank of the river afforded very little shel- 
ter, determined with the handful under him to storm 
the heights. But he had now received four wounds, 
and was compelled to surrender the command to 



102 SECOND WAK WITH ENGLAND. 

Captains Ogilvie and Wool," wlio gallantly 
moved forward, and carried tlie fort and heights. 
The enemy were driven into a strong stone house, 
from which they made two nnsnccessfnl attempts to 
recover the ground they had lost. Brock, flushed 
with the easy victory he had gained over Hull, ral- 
lied them by his presence, and while attempting to 
lead on the grenadiers of the 49th, fell mortally 
wounded. This for a time gave the Americans un- 
disturbed possession of the heights, and great efforts 
were made to bring over the other troops. General 
Van Hensalacr, after the fall of his cousin, crossed 
and took the command, but hastening back to urge 
on the embarkation of the militia, it devolved on 
General Wadsworth. 

Daylight had seen this brave little band form on 
the shores of the river under a galling fire — the 
morning sun glittered on their bayonets from the 
heights of Queenstovvm, and the victory seemed won. 
The day so gloriously begun w^ould have closed in 
brighter effulgence, had not the militia on the farther 
side refused to cross over to the assistance of their 
hard-pressed comrades. A stone liouse near the 
bank defended by two liglit pieces of artillery, still 
played on the boats that attempted to cross, and the 
Americans on the Canada side, having no heavy 
artillery, were unable to take it. The firing from this, 
* Now General Wool. 



SCOTT TAKES COMMAND. 103 

and soon after the appearance of a large body of 
Indians on the field of battle, so frightened the mi- 
litia, that neither entreaties nor threats could induce 
them to embark. Through utter want of orderly 
management, half of the twenty boats had been 
destroyed or lost ; still it was not the lack of means 
of transportation that held them back, but conscien- 
tioxis scntples ahout invading an enemifs territory. 
Attempting to mask their cowardice under this 
ridiculous plea, they stood and saw the dangers 
thicken around their comrades who had relied on 
their support, without making a single efiTort to save 
them from destruction. 

Lieutenant-colonelScottby a forced march through 
mud and rain, had arrived at Lewistown with his 
regiment at four o'clock in the morning, just as the 
troops were embarking. He begged permission to 
take part in the expedition, but the arrangements 
having all been. made, his request was denied. He 
therefore planted his guns on the shore and opened his 
fire on the enemy. But seeing how small a propor- 
tion of the troops were got across, and perceiving also 
the peril of Yan Rensalaer's detachment, his young 
and gallant heart could not allow him to remain 
an idle spectator, and taking one piece of artillery he 
jumped into a boat with his adjutant Eoach, and 
pushed for the opposite shore. Wadsworth imme- 
diately gave the command of the troops to him, and 



104 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

his chivalric bearing and enthusiastic language soon 
animated every heart with new courage. Six feet 
five inches in height and in full nniform, he pre- 
sented a conspicuous mark for the enemy and a ral- 
lying point to the troops. Had his regiment 
been w^ith him, Queenstown would have been a 
second Chippewa. 

Considerable reinforcements, however, had ar- 
rived, swelling the number to six hundred, of whom 
three hundred and fifty were regular troops. These, 
Scott, assisted by the cool and skillful Capt. Zitten, 
soon placed in the most commanding positions, and 
waited for further reinforcements. Just before, a 
body of five hundred Indians, whom the firing had 
suddenly collected, joined the beaten light troops of 
the English. Encouraged by this accession of 
strength, the latter moved again to the assault, but 
were driven back in confusion. Still the enemy 
kept up a desultory engagement. On one occasion, 
the Indians, issuing suddenly from the forest, sur- 
prised a picket of militia, and following hard on 
their fiying traces, carried consternation into that 
part of the line. Scott, who was in the rear, show- 
ing the men how to unspike a gun, hearing the tu- 
mult, hastened to the front, and rallying a few 
platoons, scattered those wild warriors with a single 
blow. But while the day was wearing away in this 
doubtful manner, a more formidable foe appeared on 



AREIVAL OF SHEx\FFE. 105 

the field. General SheafFe, commanding at Fort 
George, had heard the firing in the morning ; and a 
little later the news of the death of Brock was 
brought him. His forces were immediately put in 
motion, and soon after midday the little band tliat 
had from day dawn bravely breasted the storm, saw 
from the heights they had so bravely won, a column 
eight hundred and fifty strong, approaching the 
scene of combat — not in haste or confusion, but with 
the slow and measured tread of disciplined troops. 
These few hundred Americans watched its progress 
with undaunted hearts, and turned to catch the out- 
lines of their own advancing regiments, but not a 
bayonet was moving to their helj). At this critical 
moment news arrived of the shameful mutiny that 
had broken out on the opposite shore. The entreat- 
ies of Yan Rensalaer, and the noble examjDle of 
Wadsworth, and the increasing peril of their com- 
rades, w^ere wholly unavailing — not a soul would 
stir. This sealed the fate of the American detach- 
ment. A few hundred, sustained by only one piece 
of artillery against the thirteen hundred of the ene- 
my — their number when the junction of the advanc- 
ing column with the remaining troops and the 
Indian allies should be effected — constituted hopeless 
odds. General Yan Eensalaer, from the opposite 
shore, saw tliis, and sent word to Wadsworth to 
retreat at once, and he would send every boat he 



106 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

could lay hands on to receive the fugitives. lie, 
however, left everything to the j udgment of thelatter. 
Colonels Chrystie and Scott; of the regulars, and 
Mead, Strahan, and Allen of the militia, and officers 
Ogilvie, Wool, Totlen, and Gibson McOhesney, and 
others, presented a noble yet sorrowful group, as 
they took council over tins message of the com- 
mander-in-chief. Their case was evidently a hope- 
less one, yet they could not make up their minds to 
retreat. Col. Scott, mountinsi: a loo^ in front of his 
troops, harangued them in a strain worthy of the 
days of chivalry. He told them their condition was 
desperate, but that Hull's surrender must be re- 
deemed. " Let us then die," he exclaimed, '' arms 
in hand. Our country demands the sacrifice. The 
example will not be lost. The blood of the slain 
wall make heroes of the livino*. Those who follow 
wdll avenge our fall, and our country's wrongs. 
"Who dare to stand?" A loud " All!" rang sternly 
along the line.''^ In the mean time Gen. Sheaffe had 
arrived, but instead of advancing immediately to 
the attack, slowly marched his column the whole 
length of the American line, then countermarched it, 
as if to make sure that the little band in front of him 
was the only force he had to overcome. All saw at 
a glance that resistance was useless, and retreat al- 
most hopeless. The latter, however, was resolved 

* Mansfield's Life of Scott. 



SUKRENDEE OF SCOTT. 107 

upon, but tlie moment the order was given to retire, 
tlie whole broke in disorderly flight towards the river. 
To tlieir dismay, no boats were thei'e to receive them, 
and a flag of truce was therefore sent to the enemy. 
Tlie messenger, however, never returned ; another 
and another shared the same fate. . At last Scott 
tied a white handkerchief to his sword, and accom- 
panied by Captains Totten and Gibson, crept under 
one of the precipices, down the river, till he arrived 
where a gentle slope gave an easy ascent, when the 
three made a push for the road, which led from the 
valley to the heights. On the way they were met by 
Indians, who firing on them, rushed forward with their 
tomahawks, to kill them. They would soon have 
shared the fate of the other messengers, but for the 
timely arrival of a British ofiicer, with some soldiers 
who took them to Gen. Sheaffe, to whom Scott sur- 
rendered his whole force. Two hundred and ninety- 
three were all that survived of the brave band who 
had struggled so long and so nobly for victory. 
Several hundred militia, however, were found con- 
cealed along the shore, who had crossed over, but 
skulked away in the confusion. 

The entire loss of the Americans in this unfortunate 
expedition, killed and captured, was about one thou- 
sand men. 

General Yan Rensalaer, disgusted with the con- 
duct of the militia, soon after sent in his resignation. 



108 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLANT*. 

Brock was buried the following day "under one of 

the bastions of Fort George," and at the request of 
Scott, then a prisoner, minute guns were fired from Fort 
Niagara during the funeral ceremonies. Above the 
dull distant roar of the cataract, the minute guns of 
friends and foes pealed over the dead, as with 
shrouded banners the slowdy marching column bore 
him to his last resting place. Cannon that but a 
few hours before had been ex]3loding in angry strife 
on each other, now joined their peaceful echoes over 
his grave. Such an act was characteristic of Scott, 
who fierce and fearless in battle, was chivalrous and 
kind in all his feelings. 

While a prisoner in an inn at Niagara, Scott was 
told that some one wished to see the "tall Ameri- 
can." He immediately passed through into the 
entry, Vvdien to his astonishment he saw standing be- 
fore him two savage Indian chiefs, the same who had 
attempted to kill him when he surrendered himself 
a prisoner of war. They wished to look on the man 
at whom they had so often fired with a deliberate aim. 
In broken English, and by gestures, they inquired 
where he was hit, for they believed it impossible that 
out of fifteen or twenty shots not one had taken 
effect. The elder chief, named Jacobs, a tall, pow- 
erful savage, became furious at Scott's asserting that 
not a ball had touched him, and seizing his shoul- 
ders rudely, turned him roimd to examine his back. 



SCOTT AND THE SAVAGES. 109 

The yonng and iiery Coloiiel did not like to have 
such freedom taken v/ith liis person by a savage, and 
hurling him fiercely aside, exclaimed, "Off, vil- 
lain, you fired like a squaw." " We kill you now," 
wa5 the quick and startling reply, as knives and 
tomahawks gleamed in their hands. Scott was not 
a man to beg or run, though either would have been 
preferable to taking his chances against these armed 
savages. Luckily for him, the swords of tliQ Ame- 
rican ofiicers who had been taken. prisoners, w^ere 
stacked under the staircase beside which he was 
standing. Quick as thought he snatched up the 
largest, a long sabre, and the next moment it glit- 
tered unsheathed above his head. One leap back- 
ward, to get scope for |)lay, and he stood towering 
even above the gigantic chieftain, who glared in 
savage hate upon him. The Indians were in the 
wider part of the hall, between the foot of the stairs 
and the door, while Scott stood farther in w^here it 
was narrower. Tlie former, therefore, could not get 
in the rear, and were compelled to face their enemy. 
They manoeuvred to close, but at every turn that sa- 
bre flashed in their eyes. The moment they should 
come to blows, one, they knew, was sure to die, and 
although it v/as equally certain that Scott would fall 
under the knife of the survivor before he could 
regain his position, yet neither Indian seemed 
anxious to be the sacrifice. While they thus stood 



110 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

watcliing eacli other, a British officer chanced to 
enter, and on beholding the terrific tableau, cried 
out, "The guard," and at tlie same instant seized the 
tallest chief by the arm and presented a cocke-d pis- 
tol to his head- The next moment the blade of 
Scott quivered over the head of the other savage, to 
protect his deliverer. In a few seconds the guards 
entered with levelled bayonets, and the two chief- 
tahis were secured. One of them was the son of 
Brant, of revolutionary notoriety. 

The prisoners were all taken to Quebec, whence 
they were sent in a cartel to Boston. As they were 
about to sail, Scott, who was in the cabin of the trans- 
port, hearing a noise on deck, went up to ascertain 
the cause, an I found that the British officers were sep- 
arating the Irishnnen, to exclude them from mercy due 
to the other prisoners, and have them taken to Eng- 
land and tried for treason. Twenty-three had thus 
been set apart when he arrived. Indignant at this 
outrage, he peremptorily ordered the rest of the men 
to keep silent and not answer a question of any kind, 
so that neither by their replies or voice they could 
give any evidence of the place of their birth. He 
then turned to the doomed twenty-three, and de- 
nounced the act of the officers, and swore most 
solemnly that if a hair of their heads was touched, he 
would avenge it, even if he was compelled to refuse 
quarter in battle. 



GENEKAL SMYTHE. 111 

Soon after he reached Boston, he was sent to "Wash- 
ington, and in a short time was exchanged. He then 
drew up a report of the whole affair to the Secretary 
of War, and it was presented the same day to Con- 
gress. The result was the passage of an act of retalia- 
tion (March 3d, 1S13.) 

General Yan Eensalaer having resigned his com- 
mission, making the second general disposed of since 
the commencement of hostilities, the command on 
the Niagara frontier devolved on General Smjthe, 
who issued a pi'oclamation to the " men of 
New York," which was of itself a sufficient 
guarantee that he would soon follow Hull into worse 
than oblivion. In it, after speaking of the failure of 
the former expedition, he said, "Yalor had been 
conspicuous, but the nation unfortunate in the selec- 
tion of some of those directing it"- " the com- 
manders were popular men, destitute alike of theory 
and experience in the art of war." " In a few days," 
said he, " the troops under my command will -plsiut 
the American standard in Canada to conquer or die." 
He called on all those desirous of honor or fame, to 
rally to his standard. He was not one of the incom- 
petent generals whose plans failed through ignorance. 
Portions of his proclamations, however, were well 
adapted to rouse the military spirit of the state, and 
in less than three weeks he had nearly five thousand 
men under his command. His orders from the Sec- 



112 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

retary of War, were, not to attempt an invasion with 
" less than three tliousand combatants," and with suffi- 
cient boats to carry the whole over together. 

Seventy boats and a large number of scows having 
been collected at Black Rock, he issued his orders for 
tlie troops to be in readiness early on the morning of 
the 28th of November, to cross over and attack the 
enem3\ 

Previous to the main movement, however, he sent 
over two detachments, one under Colonel Boestler, and 
the other under Captain King — the former to destroy 
a bridge five miles below Fort Erie, in order to cut 
off the communication between it and Chippewa, 
while the latter, with a hundred and fifty regular 
troops and seventy seamen, was to carry the "Eed 
House," and storm the British batteries on the shore. 

The boats pushed oiF at midnight, and were 
soon struo-crlina in the centre of the stream. Of 
Colonel Boestler's seven boats, containing two hun- 
dred men, only three reached the Canada shore. 
With less than lialf his force he advanced and easily 
routed the guard, but hearing that a British rein- 
forcement was marching up, he retreated without de- 
stroying the bridge, and re-einbarked his men. 
Captain King started with ten boats, but six of them 
were scattered in the darkness, and only four reached 
the point of attack. Among these, however, were 
the seventy seamen. The advance of the boats hav- 



STJERENDT5E. 113 

ing been seen by the sentinels on watcb, the little 
detachment was compelled to land under a shower of 
grape shot and musketry. 

The sailors without waiting the order of a regular 
march, rushed up the bank with their boarding pikes 
and cutlasses, stormed the position, and carried it 
with loud huzzas. After securing some prisoners and 
tumbling two cannon and their caissons into the 
river, Lieutenant Angus began to look around for 
Captain King. The latter directing his force on the 
exterior batteries, carried the first by the bayonet, 
when the other was abandoned. The position and all 
the batteries being taken, the firing had ceased, and 
Lieutenant Angus marched his sailors, with the 
wounded and prisoners, to the shore to wait for Cap- 
tain King, and recross the river. Finding only four, 
boats there, and ignorant that no more had landed, 
he concluded that the former had already re-em- 
barked his troops ; he therefore launched these and 
made good his retreat to the American shore. In a 
short time Captain King arrived, and to his amaze- 
ment found all the boats gone. After a short search, 
however, he discovered two belonging to the enemy, 
in which he despatched the prisoners he had taken, 
and as many of his men as they would hold. He re- 
mained behind with the remainder of his detachment, 
and was soon after compelled to surrender himself 
prisoner of war. 



114 SECOND WAR WITII ENGLAND. 

On the return of Boestler and Angus without Cap- 
tain King and the rest of the detachment, Colonel 
Winder volunteered to go in search of them. 

But, as heap2>roached the opposite shore, he found 
all the batteries re-established, which opened their fire 
upon him, compelling him to return with the loss of 
six killed and twenty-six wounded. In fact his own 
boat was the only one that touched land at all — the 
others being carried down by the force of the stream. 

Through some unaccountable delay, the main body, 
to which the two detachments sent oif at midnight 
were designed as an advance guard, did not embark 
till twelve o'clock next day. But at length two thou- 
sand men under General Porter, were got on board, 
while General Tannehill's volunteers and M'Clure's 
regiment were drawn up on the shore ready to fol- 
low. As if on purpose to give his adversary time 
for ample preparation, thus imitating the fatal ex- 
amples of Dearborn and Hull, Smythe kept his men 
paraded on the beach in full view of the Canada 
sliore, till late in the afternoon. He then, instead of 
giving the anxiously expected order to advance, com- 
manded the whole to debark. Indignation and rage 
at this vascillating, pusillanimous conduct seized 
the entire army, and curses and loud denunciations 
were heard on every side. General Porter boldly 
and openly accused his commander of cowardice. 
The latter, frightened at the storm he had raised, 



DISGRACE OF GENERAL SMYTHE. 115 

promised that another attempt should be made the 
next day. It was resolved to cross at a place five 
miles below the navy yard, and the following day, 
at four o'clock, nearly the entire army was embarked. 
General Porter with the American colors floating 
from the stern of his boat, was in advance, to show 
that he asked no man to go where he would not 
lead. But when all was ready, and at the mo- 
ment when every one expected to hear the signal 
to move forward, an order was passed along the line 
directing the troops to be relanded, accompanied with 
the announcement that the invasion of Canada was 
for that season abandoned. A shout of wrath burst 
from the whole army. Many of the militia threw 
away their arms and started for their homes, while 
fierce threats against the General's life were publicly 
made by the remaining troops. He was branded 
as a coward, shot at in the streets, and without even 
the form of a trial, was driven in scorn and rage 
from the army, and chased and mobbed by an in- 
dignant people from the state he had dishonored. 
Before he retired, however, he made an absurd at- 
tempt to retrieve his honor by challenging General 
Porter to mortal combat. They met on Grand 
Island and exchanged shots without effect. The 
seconds having published the transaction in a Buf- 
falo paper, " congratulated the public on the happy 
issue." In commenting on this, Ingersoll very 



116 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

pithily remarks, ''The public would have preferred 
a battle in Canada." 

Beginning at the extreme north-west, and con- 
tinuing along the lakes to ]N"iagara, we had met with 
nothing but defeat. Only one more array was left 
to lift the nation out of the depths of gloom by its 
achievements, or deepen the night in which the 
year 1812 was closing. General Dearborn, the com- 
mander-in-chief, had an army of three thousand 
regulars and as many more militia, with the power 
to swell his force to ten thousand if he thought 
proper. The plan of government to conquer Can- 
ada through Hull's invasion from Detroit, Yan Ren- 
salaer's and Smythe's from Niagara, both to be sup- 
ported and their triumph secured by the advance of 
Dearborn, had fallen to the ground, and the latter 
was passing the autumn in ixlleness. 

General Brown, who commanded the militia ap- 
pointed for the defence of the eastern shore of Lake 
Ontario and southern shore of St. Lawrence, exhi- 
bited, at Ogdensburg, the first indications of those 
qualities of a great commander which afterwards 
developed themselves on the scene of Yan Ren- 
salaer's and Smythe's defeats and failures. Colonel 
Forsyth having made a successful incursion into 
Canada with a noble bod}^ of riflemen, twice defeat- 
ing double his numbers and burning a block house 
with stores ; the British, in retaliation, attacked Og- 



ATTACK ON OGDENSBTTKa. 117 

densburg. On the 2d of October tliej commenced 
a cannonade from tlieir batteries at Prescott, on the 
opposite side of the river. This harmless waste of 
ammunition was continued for two days, when it 
was resolved to storm the town. Six hundred men 
were embarked in forty boats, and under cover of 
the batteries, pulled steadily across the river. Gen- 
eral Brown could collect but four hundred militia to 
oppose them, but having posted these judiciously, 
they were able to keep up such a deadly fire on the 
enemy that every aJ^tempt to land proved abortive, 
and the whole detachment was compelled to with- 
draw to the Canada shore. 

There Avas, during the summer, a good deal of 
skirmishing along the frontier, forming interludes 
to the more important movements. Colonel Pike 
on the 19th of the same month made an incursion 
into Canada, surprised a body of British and In- 
dians, and burnt a block-house. Three days after, 
Captain Lyon captured forty English at St. Eegis, 
together with a stand of colors and despatches from 
the Governor General to an Indian tribe. The colors 
were taken by William M. Marcy. 

Thus the autumn wore away, till at last. Dearborn 

j^^^ seemed to awake from his torpor. Moving 

2^- his army from the little town of Champlain, 

he forded the La Cole, and attacked and captured 

an English block-house. The grand movement had 



118 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

now commenced, and tlie Britisli Governor-General 
prepared to meet the most serious invasion that had 
yet been attempted. But to his astonishment he 
discovered that all this display of force was to ob- 
tain possession of a gnard-house, and retain it for 
half an hom\ This feat being accomplished, General 
Dearborn, amid much confusion, marched his six 
thousand men back again, and resting on his honors 
soon after retired into winter quarters. After pro- 
tracted delays and unaccountable inaction, he 
seemed at last to feel the necessity of obeying the 
urgent orders of the government, " not to lose a mo- 
ment in attacking the Britisli ^osts in his fronts 
These lie had now obeyed to the letter — ^he had 
attached a block-house and tied. The great tragedy 
had be2:un and ended in a farce. The surrender of 
Hull was an unmitigated disgrace, and the nation 
turned towards Niagara for relief. The failure of 
Yan Kensalaer was not unmixed with consola- 
tion. He and the officers and men who bore the 
brunt of that day's battle, had shown what American 
troops could do. Yan Rensalaer has been charged 
with acting rashly, and exposing himself to discom- 
fiture, when success would have been of no advantage. 
But those who suppose that a victory is fruitless, be- 
cause no importa^it position is gained, or territory is 
wrested from the enemy, commit a vital error. They 
forget that moral power is half, even when every 



VAN RENSALAEB. 119 

tiling depends on hard blows. "When coniidence is 
lost, and despondency has taken the place of courage 
and hope, a battle that should restore these would 
be a victory, at almost any sacrifice. So Yan Ken- 
salaer thought, and jnstly. His preparations and 
mode of procedure were not careful and prudent, as 
they should have been, exhibiting a want of thorough 
ness which a longer experience would have rectified ; 
still, his plan might have succeeded but for the das- 
tardly conduct of the militia, and a new impulse 
been given to the movements along the northern 
frontier. This coWardly behavior of his troops he 
could not anticipate, for they had hitherto shown. 
no disinclination to fight. At Hull's surrender there 
were no indications of a craven spirit — on the con- 
trary, the soldiers cursed their commander, and the 
general feeling was, that give the men a gallant 
leader and they would fight bravely. Yan Rensa- 
laer knew that his troops would not fail through 
reluctance on his part to lead them to battle, and it 
was enough to break his noble heart, as he stood 
bleeding from four wounds, to see them refuse to 
come to his rescue. 

General Smythe's conduct admits of no apology. 
His excuse for countermanding his last order, after 
tlio troops had embarked, is groundless. He says 
that his orders were strict, not to attempt an invasion 
of Canada with less than three thousand men, and 



120 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

tlitit lie but fifteen liunclred. Yet in liis last attempt 
all but some two hundred of liis troops were actually 
embarked, wlien he commanded them to re-land. 
He w^as either not aware how many soldiers com- 
posed his army ujitil he counted them as they lay 
off in their boats, ready to pull for the opposite 
shore, or he knew it before. If the latter be true, 
why all this display, designed to eventuate in no- 
thing ? On the other hand, the confession of igno- 
rance is still worse. This much is clear, all these 
difficulties and objections could not have occurred 
to him for the first time when he saw the army 
drawn up on shore or afloat. The excuse, if honest, 
is worse than the act itself. 

Dearborn's inactivity furnished less salient points 
of criticism, but it was fully as culpable as Smythe's 
failure. In the first place, he received orders from 
the Secretary of War to make a diversion in 
favor of JIull at Niagara and Kingston^ as 
soon as ])0S8ible, His position might have been 
such that no blame could attach to him for not mak- 
ing such diversion, but nothing could warrant him 
in entering into an armistice with the enemy, in 
which Hull was excluded. If he assumed such 
a responsibility in the hope that peace would 
be secured, he was bound to make as one of the 
first conditions, that no reinforcements should be 
sent to Maiden and Detroit, One such act is suffi- 



CONDLCT OF DEAKBOEN. 121 

cient to cause the removal of a commander, for he 
can never be an equal match against a shrewd and 
energetic enemy. Prevost wrote to Gen. Brock : 
'' I consider it most fortunate that I have been able 
to prosecute this object of Government, (the armis- 
tice,) without interfering with your ojyerations on the 
Detroit. I have sent you men, money, and stores of 
all Mndsy ^ 

One cannot read this letter without feeling cha- 
grin that the Senior Major-General of the American 
army could be so easily overreached 

In the second place, his delay in breaking off this 
armistice w^hen peremptorily ordered by govern- 
ment, was clearly reprehensible, while the fact that 
with an army of six thousand men under his imme- 
diate command, he accomplished absolutely nothing, 
is incontrovertible proof of his inefficiency as a com- 
mander. The isle of Aux E"oix was considered the key 
of Central Canada, and this he could liaA^e taken at any 
moment and held for future operations ; yet he went 
into winter quarters without having struck a blow. 

The troops, regular and militia, under his gen- 
eral direction, amounted in the latter part of Sep- 
tember to thirteen thousand men. Six thousand 
three hundred were stationed along the Kiagara, 
two thousand two hundred at Sackett's Harbor, and 
five thousand on Lake Champlain. To oppose this 

* Vide Life and Services of Sir George Provost. 
6 



122 SECOND WAK "WITH ENGLAND. 

formidable force, Sir George Provost had not more 
than three thousand troops," and yet not even a 
battle had been fought, if we except that of Yan 
Rensalaer's detachment, while instead of gaining we 
had lost both fortresses and territory. 

One naturally inquires what could be the cause 
of such a com23lete failure where success was deemed 
certain. In the first place, there was not a man 
in the cabinet fit to carry out a campaign, however 
well planned. The sudden concentration of so large 
a force on our northern frontier, before reinforce- 
ments could arrive from England, was a wise move- 
ment, and ought to have accomplished its purpose. 
But there the wisdom ended, and vascillation and 
doubt took the place of promptness, energy and 
daring. 

In the second place, inefficient commanders were 
placed at the head of our armies. Both Dearborn 
and Hull had been gallant officers in the Revolu- 
tion, but they were wholly unaccustomed to a sepa- 
rate command, and while imitating the caution of 
their great exemplar, exhibited none of his energy 
and daring. They remembered his Fabian inac- 
tivity, but they forgot the overwhehning reasons 
that produced it, and forgot, also, Trenton, Prince- 
ton and Monmouth. 

In the third place, the militia were undisciplined 
* Yide Armstrono-'s Notices of the War of 1812. 



CAUSES OF FAILURE. 123 

and could not be relied upon. The insubordination, 
unmilitary conduct, and recklessness of rules wliicli 
force a commander into extreme caution, lest his sem- 
blance of an army should be annihilated, are not 
known to the persons who coolly criticise him at a 
distance. These things are doubtless an ample ex- 
cuse for much that is unsparingly condemned. 
Hence it is nnjust to pronounce judgment on this or 
that action, because it might apparently ha^e been 
avoided, unless those actions and the declarations of 
their autlior contradict each other, or stand con- 
demned by every inter^^retation of military rules. 

In the commencement of the war we had neither 
an army nor generals that could be trusted. The 
troops lacked confidence in their leaders, and the 
latter had no confidence in their troops. Such mu- 
tual distrust can result in nothing but failure. Our 
commanders were in an embarrassing position, but 
they ought to have been aware that to fight their 
way out was the only mode of escape left them. 
Battles make soldiers and develope generals. In 
the tnmult and dangers of a fierce fight, the cool 
yet daring ofiicers, fertile in resources, fierce in the 
onset, and stubborn and unconquered in retreat, are 
revealed, and soon men are found who will follow 
where they lead, even into hopeless combat. A 
spirit of emulation and valor succeeds timidity and 
distrust. 



124 SECOND -WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

The administration at this period was surrounded 
with great and perplexing difficulties. With but the 
germ of a military academy, efficient officers were 
scarce. The establishment of the school at "West 
Point was one of the wisest acts ever performed by 
this government, and the attempt, a few years since, 
to destroy it, one of the most unscrupulous, reckless 
and dangerous ever put forth by ignorant dema- 
gogues. Our volunteers and militia have confidence 
in men bred to the profession of arms. They yield 
them ready obedience — submit to rigid discipline — 
while thq, method and skill witli which everything 
is conducted, impart confidence and steadiness. A 
country like ours will never submit to the expense 
and danger of a large standing army, nor do we 
need it if we can keep well supplied with military 
schools. A few West Point officers on the Canada 
frontier would have brought the campaign of 1812 
to a different close. 



CHAPTER Y. 

THE NAVY. 

The Cabinet resolves to shut up our ships of war in port— Eemonstrance of 
Captains Baiubridse and Stuart— Kodgers ordered to sea -Feel ins; of the crews — 
Chase of the Belvidere—NaiTow escape of the Constitution from an English fleet — 
Cruiseof the Essex— Action between the Constitution and Guerriere — ^Eflfect of 
the Yictory In England and the United States — United States takes the Macedo- 
nian—Lieutenant Hamilton carries the captured colors to Washington — Presented 
to Mrs. Madison in a ball-room — The Argus — Action between the "Wasp and Frolic 
•^Constitution captures the Java— Hornet takes the Peacock- Effect of these 
Victories abroad. 

Having gone tlirougli the first campaigns on the 
Canadian frontier, I leave for awliile the army of 
Harrison, swallowed np in the forests of Ohio and 
surrounded by the gloom of a northern winter, toil- 
ing its way towards Maiden, and turn with a feeling 
of relief to the conduct of our little navy during the 
summer that had passed. 

As I stated before, our naval force amounted to 
but nine frigates and a few sloops of war, while 
Great Britain had a hundred ships of the line in 
commission, and more than a thousand vessels in all, 
bearing the royal flag. Added to this stupendous 



12G SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

difference in tlie number of sliips, was the moral 
power attaclied to the universally acknowledged su- 
periority of the British navy. England was recog- 
nized inistress of the seas. The fleets of Spain, 
France and Holland had one after another submitted 
to her sway, and fresh with still greater laurels won 
under E'elson, her navy was looked upon as irresist- 
ible. A naval contest on our part, therefore, was 
not dreamed of, and hence arose the determination 
on the part of the Administration at Washington, to 
convert our frio^ates into mere floatina; batteries for 
the protection of harbors. But it must be remem- 
bered, weak as our navy appeared, it was stronger 
at the the declaration of war than the whole British 
force on our coast. "We had shij)s enough to block- 
ade Halifax and Bermuda, and bear undisputed 
sway until reinforcements could be sent across the 
Atlantic. Our privateers in the revolution — the 
conduct of our ships in the Bay of Tripoli had given 
evidence of what could be done, and the determina- 
tion of the Cabinet, therefore, to lay up the ships of 
war before their metal had been tested — to leave the 
waters around our coast vexed with British cruisers, 
when at least for six weeks we could have kept them 
clear of the enemy, and in all probability captured 
their entire squadi-on on the American station, is an- 
other painful evidence of the utter incapacity of the 
administration to carry on the war. If, in anticipa- 



ITEGLECT OF TITE NAVY. 127 

tioii of hostilities, our whole fleet had been collected 
and put in such order that it could have sailed at an 
hour's notice, results would have been accomplished 
far PTcater than those which followed. 

Against our nine frigates, the President, United 
States, and Constellation, of the first class, the Con- 
gress, Constitution, and the Chesapeake of the 
second, the Essex, Adams, Boston and Xew York,* 
together with several smaller vessels, there we]*e 
on the Halifax station but five frigates and some 
smaller vessels. The Africa, sixty-four, was the only 
two decker on our coast, in active service. The 
Halifax station could have been reinforced by the 
other two stations, the Jamaica and Leeward Island, 
but not within a month, which would have given us 
an opportunity of cutting them up in detail. Eng- 
land, at this time, was so occupied with the momen- 
tous afiairs in Europe, that she kept her fleets on the 
eastern board of the Atlantic, and ignorant of our 
naval strength, supposed the ships on the Halifax 
station more than a match for the whole American 
navy. Had the British fleet on this coast been cap- 
tured, and an alliance ofl'ensive and defensive formed 
with France, we should have struek the maritime 
power of England a blow from which she never 

* The Boston and New York were not ready for sea, but could 
and wmild have been, had there been a determination on the part 
of the Government to use the navy. 



128 SECOND WAR WITH 3C.NCLAND. 

would have recovered. But the outcries of the Fed- 
eralists filled the administration with as much dread 
of French alliance, as it entertained of the naval 
powder of England. 

Not only was the American Government innocent 
of all such plans for the navy, but it did not even 
provide for the merchantmen which might be ap- 
•proaching the American coast, and liable to be cap- 
tured b}^ the most contemptible cruiser that sailed 
unmolested along our shores. 'No nation ever be- 
fore had the opportunity of doing so much with 
small means, as circumstances placed in the hands 
of the American Government at the commencement 
of the war, and threw it away so foolishly, so unpar- 
donably. 

The insane j)i'<^^ject to lay up the American ships 
in harbor, was defeated by two naval officers, to 
whom the nation owes perpetual gratitude. Captains 
Bainbridge and Stewart were at "Washington when 
the subject was under discussion, and being shown 
the written orders to Commodore Rodgers, to keep 
his fleet in the harbor of New York, as a part of its 
defence, they sought an interview with the Secretary 
of the ISTavy, and boldly remonstrated against this 
death-blow to the navy. " If laid up in war, who 
would support it in j)eace ? " Although told that the 
thing was settled, so far as regarded the fleet iilH^ew 
York Bay, they appealed with still greater urgency. 



BADSTBRIDGE AOTD STEWART. 120 

and in the trne spirit of tlieir jDrofession, declared 
that the American commanders were capable of 
taking care of their own ships ; nay, in noble enthu- 
siasm asserted, that eight times out of ten, an Amer- 
ican frigate would ca^^ture an antagonist of equal 
metal. 

The secretary was moved by their appeal, backed 
as it was with solid argument, and took them to see 
the President. They made to him the same state- 
ments which had so deeply impressed the Secretary 
of the l^avy. Moreover, they promised victories^ a 
dream which had never visited the brain of a mem- 
ber of the cabinet. " Eight times out of ten," said 
they, " with equal force we can hardly fail — our 
men are better men, and better disciplined ; our 
midshij^men are not mere boys, only fit to carry 
orders, but young men capable of reflection and ac- 
tion. Our guns are sighted, which is an improve- 
ment of our own the English know nothing of. 
While we can fire cannon with as sure an aim as 
musketry, or almost rifles, striking twice out of 
every three shots, they must fire at random, without 
sight of their object or regard to the undulations of 
the sea, shooting over our heads, seldom hulling us 
or even hitting our decks. We may be captured, 
and probably shall be, even after taking prizes from 
them, because their numbers are so much greater 
than ours. But the American flag will never be 



130 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

clislionored, seldom if ever struck to equal force."* 
The President, as well as the Secretary of the ]^avy, 
w^as swept away by the arguments and gallant spirit 
of those officers, and suddenly remembered the dar- 
ing and success of the few ships of war and the 
privateersmen during the Kevolution. 

Seeing their advantage, these officers pressed it 
with redoubled energy, until the President called a 
meeting of the cabinet to consult on the matter. 
But Mr. Gallatin, to whose sagacity and foresight 
all paid the most profound deference, treated the 
project as absurd. He had studied European affairs 
too much, and the rising genius of this country too 
little. Like many other wise statesmen, he could 
not introduce into the elements from which he 
drew his conclusions, the gallant spirit, lofty enthu- 
siasm and indomitable courage, wdiicli then per- 
vaded our little navy. He saw only the tremendous 
maritime preponderance against us, and hence, with 
all his patriotism and wisdom, acted as a perpetual 
clog to the government till he was sent abroad, and 
his counsels could no lono^er influence the cabinet. 

But his advice tliat all maritime efforts should be 
confined to privateers, prevailed, and Bainbridge 
and Stewart were told that the decision which had 
been made respecting the national ships, could not 
be changed. Undaunted by their repulse, they 
* Yide Ingersoll's History of the War of 1812. 



MADISON OJKDEES THE SHIPS TO SEA. 131 

spent nearly the wliole niglit after tliis resolve had 
been made known to them, in drawing up a remon- 
strance to the President. Having witnessed the 
effect of their personal appeal to him, tliej deter- 
mined to address him once more by letter. 

The langnage of that address was not softened by 
well rounded periods, but plain and direct, placed 
the subject in its true aspect before Mr. Madison, 
and put on him as Chief Magistrate of the Union, 
the responsibility of keeping the navy from its legit- 
imate Held of action. When this joint communica- 
tion was laid before the Secretary of the l^avy, he 
objected to it as too strong and stern to present to 
the President, and advised them to modify its lan- 
guage. They refused to do so, and Mr. Madison 
instead of being offended at their plainness of 
speech, took upoD himself the responsibility of act- 
ing independent of his cabinet, and assured them 
the vessels should be ordered to sea. 'No one can 
tell the joy of these brave men, when they found 
the navy they loved so well, was not to be dishon- 
ored, and elate with prid^ determined that the flag 
they had so -long carried over the sea, should never 
be struck but with honor. 

The naval officers knew that the country reposed 
no confidence in its marine force, and Captains 
Bain bridge and Stewart, anticipating the doom they 
had struggled so noble to avert, had determined to 



1-yJ Si::C>)ND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

go to sea in a privateer wliich the latter liad pur- 
chased.* "With a band, of hardy seamen about 
them, and each serving in rotation as captain and 
first officer, they resolved to claim the right of 
the American flag to the high seas.f 

At this time there were in the port of Kew York, 
the President, forty-four ; Essex, thirty-two ; and 
Hornet, eighteen ; to which, on the 21st of June, 
were added the United States, forty-four ; Congress, 
thirty-eight; and Argus, sixteen, all ready to sail in 
an hour's notice, with the exception of the Essex, 
which was repairing her rigging and restow^ing her 
hold. As soon as the President had 'determined to 
send the vessels to sea, this squadron was put under 
the command of Commodore Rogers, and he ordered 
to get under way at once, and intercept a large fleet 
of Jamaica men which w^ere reported to have sailed, 
and by this time should be ofl' the American coast. 
An hour after Commodore Rogers received his 
orders, he was leading his squadron down the Bay, 
and soon his canvas disappeared in the distance. 

From the joy that pervaded this little squadron, 
as the sails were given to the wind, one would have 

* The Snapper, which, under Peregrine Green, was soon after 
captured off the Capes of the Delaware. 

f Yide Cooper's Naval History ; Harris' Life of Bainbridge ; 
Memoir of Commodore Stewart ; Naval Chronicle ; and Inger- 
soll's History of the War of 1812. 



EODGERS PUTS TO SEA. 133 

supposed it was going to witness a grand regatta, 
instead of to unequal and deadly strife with an 
eneinj. In the gallant hearts that trod those decks, 
existed none of the timidity and distrust that 
weighed down the government. There was not 
merely the determination of brave men enter- 
ing on a desperate conflict, but the buoyancy of 
confldence, the joy of those who were to wipe out 
with their heavy broadsides the imputations cast on 
them by their own countrymen, and hush forever, 
Avith their shouts of victory, the boasting and mock- 
ery of their foe. The sailors partook of the excite- 
ment, for it was a common enemy against which 
they were going — the oppressor of seamen as well 
as the invader of national rights. Says a midship- 
man on board the Hornet, in his Diary : " This 
morning the declaration of war by the United 
States against Great Britain was read. * * * 
At ten o'clock, A. M., Commodore Eodgers hove 
out the signal to weigh ; never was anchor to the 
cathead sooner, nor topsail sheeted home^ to the 
masthead with more dispatch, than upon the present 
occasion ; the smallest boy on board seems anxious 
to meet what is now looked upon as the common 
tyrant of the ocean, for they had heard the woeful 
tales of the older tars. ^ * When the ship was 
under way, Captain Lawrence had the crew called 
* Vide IngersoU's History of the War. 



134. SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

to tlieir quarters, and told them that if there were 
any amongst them who were disaffected, or one 
that had not rather sink than surrender to the ene- 
my, with gun for gun, that he should he immedi- 
ately and uninjured, landed and sent back in the 
pilot boat. The reply fore and aft was — not one." 
Kot one hesitating voice, but instead, three hearty 
cheers, that made the vessel ring. With such a 
spirit did the first squadron put to sea, and make its 
first claim, at the cannon's mouth, to equal rights. 
Two days after, Rodgers discovered, at six 
o'clock in the morning, an English frigate 
to the north-east, and instantly crow^ded sail in pur- 
suit. The chase led down the wind, and the Presi- 
dent being a fast sailer when going free, soon gained 
on the stranger, leaving the squadron far astern. At 
four o'clock she got within gun-shot, but the wind 
falling, gave the enemy the advantage, and Rodgers 
seeing that he no longer gained on the chase, at- 
tempted to cripple it. The first gun w^as pointed by 
the commodore himself, the shot of which struck 
the English frigate in the stern, and passed on into 
the gun-room. This w^as the first hostile gun fired 
on the sea after war was declared. The second was 
pointed by Lieutenant Gamble, which also sti'uck 
the enemy. The third shot, directed by Rodgers 
himself, killed two men and wounded five others. 
At the fourth shot, fired by Lieutenant Gamble, the 



CHASE OF THE BELYIDEEA. 135 

gun biirsted, killing and wounding sixteen men. 
Tlie Commodore was filing into the air by the explo- 
sion, and fell back on deck with snch violence that 
his leg was broken. The enemy took heart at this 
unexpected accident, and opened his fire. The Pres- 
ident, however, soon began to heave her shot again 
with such precision, that theJBritish frigate was com- 
pelled to cut away her anchors, throw overboard her 
boats, and spring fourteen tons of water in order to 
lighten her. She was by these means enabled to gain 
on her pursuers. Commod*ore Rodgers finding the 
distance betvveen them increasing, fired three broad- 
sides, which falling short, he abandoned the chase. 
Tlie loss of the President, in killed and wounded, was 
twenty -two, only six of whom were damaged by the 
shot of the enemy. The Belvidera, for such she was 
afterwards ascertained to be, reported seven killed and 
wounded. After repairing damages Podgers again 
cruised for the Jamaica men, and at length supposing 
he had got in their wake, kept on until near the mouth 
of tlie English Channel, when seeeing nothing of 
them, he returned by way of Maderia and the Western 
Islands to Boston. It was a barren cruise, only 
seven merchantmen being taken during the whole 
seventy days the squadron was absent. 

In the mean time the report of the Belvidera, 
which had put into Halifax, caused the enemy to 
collect a fleet, whidi early in Jr.h: - ■■.^.s ofiP N'ew York, 



1.36 SECOND WAR WITH FXGLAND. 

where it caj)tiired a great manv American merchant- 
men. Among the prizes was the schooner ^N^antilus, 
the lirst vessel of war taken on either side. While 
the squadron was thns cruising off the coast, in the 
hope of meeting the American fleet 'under Rodgers, 
the Constitution, a forty-four, sailed from An- 

July 13. " 

napolis on her way to IS'ew York. Her crew 
was newly shipped, a hundred men having joined 
her on the night before she sailed. The orders 
which Captain Hull, the commander, received from 
the Secretary of the I^avy, exhibit the timidity and 
weakness of the Government. In the first place, 
after giving directions resj^ecting the destination of 
the ship, he said : " I am informed that the Belvi- 
dera is in our waters, but you are not to understand 
me as. impelling you to battle previously to your 
having confidence in your crew, unless attacked, or 
with a reasonable prospect of success, of which you 
are to be at your discretion the judge. In a later 
order he says : "If on your way thither {i. e. from 
Annapolis to ISTew^ York) you should fall in w^ith the 
enemy's vessel, you will be guided in your proceed- 
ing by your own judgment, bearing in mind, how- 
ever, that you are not voluntarily to encounter a force 
superior to your own." One can imagine the smile 
of contempt that curled the lip of the stern com- 
mander of the Constitution, when he received this 
pitiful order, so well adapted in its tone and Ian- 



THE CONSTITUTION CHASED. 137 

giiage to make timorous officers, and lience ensure 
defeat. The Secretary liad witnessed the confidence 
and daring spirit of Bainbridge and Stewart, and he 
was afraid such men woukl fight, when prudence 
wouhl dictate flight. But he might have known 
that when officers like them were once fairly out to 
sea, on the decks of their own ships, beneath their 
own flag streaming aloft, they would pay no more 
attention to orders like the above, than to the sigh- 
ing of the wind tlirough their cordage. 

On the ITth the Constitution was out of sight of 
land, though still within soundings and going under 
easy canvas, when at two o'clock she discovered four 
sail in the north. At four she discovered another a 
little to the eastward of the first. Towards evening, 
the wind blowing light from the southward, the Con- 
stitution beat to quarters and cleared for action. At 
ten o'clock she showed the private signal, which 
remained unanswered; and concluding she had fallen 
in with a squadron of the enemy, made all sail. 
Just before day-break the Guerriere, one of the fleet, 
sent up a rocket and fired two guns. As the light 
broadened over the deep, Capt. Hull, who was anx- 
iously on the look-out, discerned seven ships closing 
steadily upon him. This was the squadron of Com- 
modore Broke, consisting of the Africa 64, Guerriere 
38, Shannon 38, Belvidera 36, Eolus 32, together 
with the captured ITautilus and a schooner. As the 



138 Si:COND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

sun rose over the ocean and lifted the mist that lay 
on the water, Capt. Hull had a full view of his posi- 
tion. Two frigates were beating down from the 
north upon him, while the Africa, two frigates, a 
brig and scliooner were following in his wake, and 
all with English colors flying. To increase the pain- 
ful uncertainty that now hung over the fate of his 
vessel, the breeze which had been light all night en- 
tirely died awa}^, and the sails flapped idly against 
the masts. Hull, however, resolved that his ship 
should not be lost, if human energy and skill could 
save her, and immediately sent all his boats forward 
to tow. But he soon found that the enemy, by put- 
ting the boats of two ships on one, were slowly cl osing 
on him. He then took all the rope he could spare 
and run a hedge out nearly a half a mile ahead 
and dropped it. The crcAv seized the rope, and 
springing to it with a will, soon made the ship walk 
through the water. As she came up with the hedge 
she overran it, and while still moving on under the 
headway she had obtained, another hedge was car- 
ried ahead, and the noble vessel glided away, as if 
by magic, from her pursuers. It was not long, how- 
ever, before the enemy discovered the trick the Yan- 
kee was playing, and began also to kedge. A little 
air was felt at half-past seven, but at eight it fell calm 
again, when the vessels resorted to boats, long sweeps 
and the kedge. The Shannon, wliich was astern, hav- 



PERIL OF THE CONSTITUTION. 139 

ing, at last, got most of the boats of tlie 'squadron on 
her, slowly gained on the Constitution, while the 
Guerriere was walking down on her larboard quar- 
ter. The prospect for the American was now gloomy 
enough — there was scarcely a ray of hope. The un- 
ruffled sea seemed to heave in mockery of the 
anguish of those whose every thought was a prayer 
for wind, and slowly, like the unpitying apj)roach of 
death, the hostile fleet kept closing on that helpless 
ship. One more hour like the last, would bring her 
under the ffuns of two frio-ates. Still, there w^as not 
a craven heart within those ribs of oak. Each man, 
as he looked sternly on his comrade, read in his face 
the determination to fight while a gun was left. 
Hull, chafing at his desperate position, resolved to 
close fiercely with the first vessel that approached ; 
and judging from his after conduct, he would have 
made wild work with his antagonist. The men in 
the boats strove nobly, but it was a contest of mere 
physical strength, in which there was not tlie least 
hope of success. But adverse fate seemed at last to 
relent, and a light breeze sprung up from the south- 
ward. Hull no sooner saw it approacliing on the 
water than he ordered the sails to be trimmed, and 
the moment the vessel felt its gentle pressure, she 
was brought up into the wind — tlie boat^ fell along- 
side and were hoisted to tlieir davits or swung, just 
clear of the w^ater — the men working coolly at their 



140 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

posts, although tlie sliot of the Guerriere were dash- 
ing the sea into spray around them. 

But in an hour it again fell nearly calm, and the 
boats were once more put on. The crew strove to make 
up by effort what they lacked in force, but the Shan- 
non steadily gained. With the exception of a little 
rest obtained when slight breezes struck the vessel, 
the men were kept incessantly at work all the day. 
At two o'clock, the Belvidera opened with her bow 
guns, to which the Constitution responded with her 
stern chasers. In half-an-hour, however. Captain 
Hull ordered the firing to cease, and the men w^ere 
again ordered to the boats, and rowing and kedging 
were ke2)t up till eleven at night. They were fast 
becoming exhausted under the tremendous strain 
that had been put upon them since early in the 
morning, when to their great relief a breeze sprung 
up, and every sail that would draw was set. It 
lasted, however, only for an hour. At midnight, it 
was calm again ; but the crews of both vessels had 
been overtasked, and no boats were sent out. 
In the morning. Captain Hull discovered that some 
of the vessels had gained on him, and four frigates 
were within long gun shot. It was now apparent 
that the least unfavorable change would settle the 
fate of the Constitution. The officers had snatched 
a little sleep at their posts, and Avere ready to defend 
their flag to the last. It was a lovely summer 



THE CONSTITUTION ESCAPES. 14:1 

morning, and as the orb of day slowly rolled into 
view, it lighted up a scene of thrilling interest and 
transcendant beauty. The ocean lay slumbering in 
majestic repose, reflecting from its unrufiied bosom 
the cloudless sky. A light breeze was fanning the 
sea, and every stitch of canvas that would draw was 
set. All the vessels had now got on the same tack, 
the gallant American leading the van. "The five 
frigates were clouds of canvas from their trucks to 
the water," as slowly and proudly they swept 
along the deep. The Constitution looked back on 
her eager j)ursuers, each eye on her decks watching 
the relative speed of the vessels, and each heart 
praying for wind. But, at noon, it again fell calm, 
when the Belvedera was found to be two miles and 
a half astern, the next frigate three miles distant, 
and the others still farther to leeward. This was a 
great gain on the position of the day before, and with 
a steady breeze, there would be no doubt of the 
issue. About half-past twelve, a light wind sprung 
up, and although it kept unsteady during the after- 
noon, it was evident the Constitution was walking 
away from her pursuers. Every sail was tended, 
and every rope watched with scrupulous care, that 
showed the American frigate to be a thorough man 
of war. The day which had been so beautiful 
threatened a stormy close, for a heavy squall was 
rising out of the southern sea. Captain Hull nar- 



142 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

rowly watched its approach, with every man at the 
clew lines. Just before it struck the ship, the order 
was given, and the vessel was stripped of her can- 
vas as by a single blow. Tlie British vessels began 
to take in sail without waiting for the near approach 
of the squall. As soon as the strength of the gale 
had been felt, the Constitution was again put under 
a press of canvas, and bowing gracefully, as if in 
gratitude to the rising sea, she flung the foam 
joyfully from her bows, and was soon rushing 
through tlie water at the rate of eleven knots an 
hour. When the rain cloud had passed, and an ob- 
servation of the enemy's ships could be obtained, 
they were far astern, and with the last rays of the 
setting sun, the Constitution bade farewell to her 
j)ursuers. It was gallantly and gloriously done. 

Cool and steady action on the part of the com- 
mander, met by corresponding conduct on the part 
of the officers and crew, thorough seamanship ex- 
hibited in every manoeuvre she attempted, saved the 
noble vessel from capture. . "What a contrast does 
this conduct of the nephew, thus surrounded by a 
superior force and beset with apparently insurmount- 
able difficulties, present to that of the uncle at De- 
troit. In the one, desperate circumstances produced 
great effort, in the other none at all. One wdth no 
thought of surrendering, while a spar was left stand- 
ing, the other meekly laying down his arms without 



CRUISE OF THE ESSEX. 143 

firing a sliot. Shortly after, the Constitution arrived 
in Boston. 

Previous to the sailing of this vessel from Annap- 
olis, the ;Essex, under Capt. Porter, having been got 
ready for sea at New York, started on a cruise to 
the southward. Making several prizes of nierchant- 
■nien, she again stood to the southward, when she 
fell in with a fleet of British transports, convoyed 
by a frigate and bomb vessel. She endeavored to 
get along side of the former, but one of the trans- 
ports which Capt. Porter had spoken, threatening to 
make signal to the other vessels, he was obliged to 
take possession of her. To accomplish this, as the 
prize had a hundred and fifty soldiers aboard, con- 
sumed so much time that the rest of the fleet es- 
caped. 

The Essex having disguised herself as a mer- 
chant man continued her cruise, and in a few 
days discovered a strange sail, which, d^^ceived 
by her appearance, boldly attacked her. The. 
latter having got the enemy in close^ range, 
knocked out her ports, which had been closed, and 
poured in her broadsides. This sudden metamor- 
phosis and tremendous firing completely stunned the 
stranger, and he immediately hauled down his colors. 
The prize proved to be the ship Alert, mounting 
twenty-two eighteen-pound carronades. This was 



144 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

tlie first British war vessel taken by an American 
cruiser. 

Captain Porter having converted the Alert into a 
cartel, sent her with the prisoners into iSt. John's. 
The English Admiral, at ISTewfoundland, remon- 
strated against this course, as i deprived the British 
of the chances of recapture before entering an Ameri- 
can port. He howev-er could not well refuse to 
cany out the arrangements which the Captain of 
the Alert had entered into. 

The Essex, after an unsuccessful cruise and some 
narrow esca]3es, finally reached the Delaware, where 
she replenished her stores. 

On the 2Sth of July an order was sent from the 
Secretary of the Navy, to Capt. Hull, at Boston, to" 
deliver up the Constitution to Commodore Bain- 
bridge, and take charge of the frigate Constellation. 
But fortunately for him and the navy, just before 
this order reached him he had again set sail, 

Awg. 3. . . 

and was out on the deep, where the anxieties 
of the department could not disturb him. Cruising 
eastward along the coast, he captured ten small 
prizes near the mouth of the St. Lawrence and 
burned them. In the middle of the month he recap- 
tured an American merchantman and sent her in, 
and then stood to the southward. On the 19th he 
made a strange sail, one of the vessels that a few 
weeks before had pressed him so hard in the chase. 



THE CONSTITUTION AND GUEKEIERE. 115 

When the Constitution had run down to within three 
miles of him, the Englishman laid his maintop sail 
aback, and hung out three flags, to show his willing- 
ness to e'ngage. Capt. Dacres, the commander, sur- 
prised at the daring manner in which the stranger 
came down, turned to the captain of an American 
merchantman whom he liad captured a few days be- 
fore, and asked him what vessel he took that to be. 
The latter replied, as he handed back the glass to 
Dacres, that he thought from her sails she was an 
American. It cannot be possible, said Dacres, or 
he would not stand on so boldly. It was soon evi- 
dent, whoever the stranger might be, he was bent on 
mischief. Hull prepared his vessel for action delib- 
erately, and after putting her under close fighting 
canvas and sending down her royal yards, ordered 
the drums to beat to quarters. It was now five 
o'clock, and as the Constitution bore steadily down 
towards her antagonist, the crew gave three cheers. 
The English vessel was well known, for she had at 
one of lier mast-heads a flag proudly flying, with 
the "Guerriere" written in large characters upon 
it. When the Constitution arrived within long gun 
shot, the Guerriere opened her fire, now waring 
to bring her broadside to bear, and again to 
prevent being raked by the American, which slowly 
but steadily approached. The Englishman kept up 
a steady fire, for nearly an hour, to wliich die Con- 
7 



146 SECOND "WAE WITH ENGLAND. 

stitution replied with only an occasional gun. Tlie 
crew at length became excited under this inaction. 
The officer below had twice come on deck to report 
that men had been killed standing idly at their guns, 
and begged permission to fire ; bat Hull still con- 
tinued to receive the enemy's broadsides in silence. 
The Guerriere failing to cripple the Constitution, 
filled and moved off with the wind free, show- 
ing that she was willing to receive her and finish 
the conflict in a yard-arm to yard-arm combat. The 
Constitution then drew slowly ahead, and the mo- 
ment her bows began to lap the quarters of the 
Guerriere, her forward guns opened, and in a few 
minutes after, the welcome orders were received to 
pour in broadside after broadside as rapidly as pos- 
sible. When she was fairly abeam, the broadsides 
w^ere fired with a rapidity and power that astounded 
the enemy. As the old ship forged slowly ahead 
with her greater way, she seemed moving in flame. 
The mizen mast of the enemy soon fell with a crash, 
while her hull was riddled with shot, and her decks 
slippery with gore. Tlie carnage was so awful that 
the blood from the wounded and mangled victims, 
as they were hurried into the cockpit, poured over 
the ladder as if it had been dashed from a bucket. 
As Hull passed his antagonist he wheeled short 
round her bows to prevent a raking fire. But in do- 
ing this he came dead into the wind — his sails were 



CAPTUKE OF THE GUERKIERE. 147 

taken aback — the vessel stopped — then getting stern- 
way, the Giierriere came n23, her bows striking the 
former abeam. While in this position, the for- 
ward guns of the enemy exploded almost against 
tlie sides of the Constitution, setting the cabin 
on fire. This would have proved a serious event 
but for the presence of mind of the fourth lieutenant, 
Beekman Yerplanck Hoffman, who extinguished it. 
As soon as the vessels got foul both crews prepared 
to board. The first lieutenant, Morris,"^ in the midst 
of a terrific fire of musketry, attempted to lasli tlie 
ships together, which were thumping and grinding 
against each other with the heavy sea, but fell, shot 
through the body. M. Alwyn, the master, and 
Lieut. Bush of the marines, mounting the taffrail 
to leap on the enemy's decks were both shot down, 
the latter killed instantly with a bullet through the 
head. Finding it impossible to board under such a 
tremendous fire, the sails of the Constitution were 
filled, when the vessels slowly and reluctantly parted. 
As the Constitution rolled away on the heavy swell, 
the foremast of the Guerriere fell back against the 
mainmast, carrying that down in its descent, leav- 
ing the frigate a helpless wreck, "wallowing in the 
trough of the sea." Hull seeing that his enemy was 
now completely in his power, ran off a little Avay to 
secure his own masts and repair his rigging which 
* Afterwards Commodore Morris. 



148 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

was baclly cut up. In a short time he returned, and 
taking np a position where he could rake the wreck 
of the Guerriere at every discharge, prepared to fin- 
ish her. Capt. Dacres had fought his ship well, and 
when every spar in her was down, gallantly nailed 
the jack to the stump of the mizen-mast. But fur- 
ther resistance was impossible, and to have gone 
down with his flag flying, as one of the English jour- 
nals declared he ought to have done, would have 
been a foolish and criminal act. A few more broad- 
sides would have carried the brave crew to the bot- 
tom, and to allow his vessel to roll idly in the trough 
of the sea, a mere target for the guns of the Ameri- 
can, would neither have added to his fame nor 
lesened the moral effect of the defeat. He therefore 
reluctantly struck her flag, and Lieutenant Kead was 
sent on board to take possession. 

As he stepped over the vessel's side, a disgusting 
scene presented itself. When the vessel struck, 
Captain Dacres told the crew they might go and get 
some refreshments, which was another mode of 
giving tliem liberty to drink. In a short time, all 
the petty officers and their wives, together with the 
sailors, were wallowing together in filth. The ves- 
sel being dismasted lay in the trough of the sea, and 
as she rolled backwards and forwards the water came 
in the ports on one side, and poured out of those on 



BLOWING UP OF THE GTJERRIERE. 149 

the other, mingling in a loathsome mass the motley 
multitude. 

This vessel, as well as all the English ships, pre- 
sented another striking contrast to the American. 
Impressment was so abhorred, that British officers 
were afraid of being shot down by their topmen 
during an engagement ; and hence dared not wear 
their uniforms, while ours went into action with 
their epaulettes on, knowing that it added to their 
security, for every sailor would fight for his com- 
mander as he would for a comrade. 

Captain Hull kept hovering around his prize during 
the night ; and at two o'clock, '' sail ho," was sent 
aft by the watch, when the Constitution immediately 
beat to quarters. The weary sailors tumbled up 
cheerfully at the summons, the vessel was cleared for 
action, and there is no doubt that if another Guer- 
riere had closed with the Constitution, she would 
have been roughly handled, crippled as the latter 
was from her recent conflict. 

After deliberating for an hour, the stranger stood 
off. In the morning, the Guerriere was reported to 
have four feet water in the hold, and was so cut up 
that it would be difficult to keep her afloat. The 
prisoners were, therefore, all removed, and the vessel 
set on fire. The flames leaped up the broken masts, 
ran along the bulwarks, and wrapped the noble wreck 
in a sheet of fire. As the guns became heated, they 



150 SECOND WA-R WITH ENOLIXD. 

went off one after another, firing their last salute to 
the dying ship. At length, the fire reached the maga- 
zine, when she blew up with a tremendous explosion. 
A huge column of smoke arose and stood for a long 
time, as if petrified in the calm atmosphere, and then 
slowly crumbled to pieces, revealing only a few 
shattered planks to tell where that proud vessel 
had sunk. The first English frigate that ever 
struck its flag to an American ship of war, had gone 
down to the bottom of the ocean, a gloomy omen of 
England's future. The sea never rolled over a vessel 
whose fate so startled the world. It disappeared for 
ever, but it left its outline on the deejD, never to be 
effaced till England and America are no more. 

The loss of the' Constitution was seven killed and 
seven wounded, while that of Guerriere was fifteen 
killed and sixty -four wounded, a disparity that 
shows with how much more precision the American 
had fired. It is impossible, at this period, to give an 
adequate idea of the excitement this victory produced. 
In the first place, it was fought three days after the 
surrender of General Hull, the uncle of the gallant 
caj)tain. The mortifying, stunning news of the dis- 
aster of the North-western army met on the sea- 
board, the thundering shout that went up from a 
people delirious with delight over this naval victory. 
Erom one direction the name of Hull came loaded 
with execrations — from the other overwhelmed with 



EFFECT OF THE TICTORY. 151 

blessings. But not only was the joy greater, ar- 
riving as tlie news did on the top of a disaster, but 
it took the nation by surprise. An American frigate 
Iiad fearlessly stood up in single combat on the deep 
Avith her proud foe, and giving gun for gun, torn the 
crown from the " mistress of the sea." The fact 
that the Constitution had four guns more and a" 
larger crew, could not prevent it from being practi- 
cally an even handed-fight. The disparity of the 
crews was of no consequence, for it was an aifair of 
broadsides, while the vast difference in the execution 
done, i^roved that had the relative w^eight of metal 
and the muster roll been reversed, the issue would 
have been the same. 

Captain Hull on his return to Boston, surrendered 
the frigate to Bainbridge, who soon after hoisted his 
broad pennant on board, but did not put to sea till 
the 26th of October. 

In the mean time. Commodore Rodgers having 
refitted again, started on a cruise, having the 
United States, forty-four, commanded by Commo- 
dore Decatur, and the Argus, sixteen. Captain Sin- 
clair, in company. Commodore Rodgers having cap- 
tured on the 17th, the British packet Swallow, with 
two hundred thousand dollars on board, continued his 
cruise to the eastward. Just before, in a heavy gale, 
the United States and Argus had parted company 
with him. The former directed her course so as to fall 



153 SECOND WAIi WITH EI«} GLAND. 

in tlie track of East Indiamen, but on Sunday morn- 
ing, the 25th, she saw a large sail to the southward, 
which proved to be the English frigate Macedonian. 
After some maneuvering, the two vessels approached 
within a mile of each other, when th e firing ' com- 
menced. After the United States delivered her 
second broadside, she ceased maneuvering and took 
the same tack with her enemy, both steering free. 
The Macedonian, however, was to windward, and 
hence could make it a yard-arm-to-yard-arm combat 
whenever she chose. But she preferred a longer 
range, and the two vessels swept on, delivering their 
rapid broadsides within musket shot. The distance 
at which they kept, together with the heavy sea that 
was rolling, rendered the aim imperfect and pro- 
tracted the conflict, so that it continued for an hour 
after the guns of both vessels began to bear, before 
any material effect was visible. The broadsides of 
the United States were delivered so rapidly that she 
was constantly enveloped in flame and smoke, and 
the crew of the Macedonian several times thought 
her on fire and cheered. Decatur, with his fine face 
lit up with that chivalric valor that was wont to 
illumine it in battle, moved amid his men with 
words of encouragement and praise. As the mizen- 
mast of the enemy went by the board, hearing a 
sailor say to his comrade, " Jack, we've made a brig 
of her ;" he replied, " Take good aim, Jack, and she 



UNITED STATES AND MACEDONIAN. 153 

will soon be a sloop." Turning to a captain of the 
gun, lie said, "^Vim at the yellow streak, her spars 
and rigging are going fast enough, she must 
have a little more hulling." Soon after her 
fore and main top mast went over. At length, the 
mizen mast w^as cut in two by a shot, about ten 
feet from the deck, while with every roll of the ship 
the weakened foremast threatened to swell the 
wreck. The Englishman, perceiving that jiis vessel 
would soon become unmanageable, made an effort 
to close, for the purpose of boarding. But Decatur 
saw his advantage too plainly, to risk it in a des- 
perate encounter, and putting on sail shot ahead. 
The enemy mistaking this movement for a rapid 
flight gave three cheers, and all the flags having 
come down with the spars, set a union Jack in the 
main rigging in token of triumj)h. But when the 
United States was seen to tack and approach, as if 
about to close, it was hauled down. 

On this same Sabbath, while the cheers of the 
United States' crew rang over the deep, IS^apoleon 
was traversing in gloom the fatal, bloody field of 
Malo-Jaraslowitz, and with two kings and three mar- 
shals by his side, was deliberating on that retreat 
which was to change the face of the world. 

The superiority of American gunnery, in this com- 
bat, was placed beyond dispute. It was a simple 
cannonade on a very rouajh sea. Yet the United 



154 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

States liad but five killed and seven wounded, while 
out of three hundred men, the Macedonian had one 
hundred and four killed or wounded. So, also, the 
former lost her top-gallant masts, and had been 
hulled but a few times. It is true her rigging suf- 
fered severelv, but the En owlish frio-ate had almost 
every spar in her more or less shattered, while her 
hull was pierced with a hundred shot. In this, as 
in the former engagement between the Constitution 
and Guerriere, the United States carried four more 
guns than her antagonist. She was a heavier ship, 
but therefore a better mark, and yet the enemy's 
shot rarely hulled her. The decks of the latter pre- 
sented a revolting spectacle. " Fragments of the 
dead were distributed in every direction — the decks 
covered with blood — one continued agonizing yell 
of the unhappy wounded," ^ hlled the ship. 

Decatur having arrived with his prize in !N"ew 
London, dispatched Lieut. Hamilton, son of the Secre- 
tary of the ISTavy, to Washington, with an account 
of the victory, and the captured colors. Hurrying 
on, greeted with the acclamations of the multitude 
as he passed, he arrived at the capital in the 

Dec. 8. 

evening. On that very night a ball had been 

given to the officers of the navy, at which Hull and 

Stewart and the Secretary of the E'avy were present. 

Young Hamilton walked into the gay assemblage 

* Statement of an American officer. 



SCOTT AJSTD THE SAVAGES. 165 

and delivered his message to liis overjoyed father, 
who immediately announced it to the company. 
Shout after shout shook the hall — all crowded 
around the young lieutenant, eager to hear the inci- 
dents of the action. As he narrated how they fought 
and how they conquered, tears of joy and gratitude 
streamed from the eyes of his mother, who stood 
fondly gazing on him. Captured colors of the en- 
emy decorated the room, and a delegation was sent 
to bring those of the Macedonia and add them to 
the number. Captains Stewart and Hull bore them 
in, and presented them, amid the loud acclamations 
of the throng, to the wife of the President — the band 
struck up an inspiring air, and intense excitement 
and exultation filled every bosom. 

The Argus met with but little success. The sea- 
manship of her officers was, however, tested during 
the cruise. She was chased three days and nights 
by an English squadron, and yet not only managed 
to escape, but having come upon an English mer- 
chantman during the chase, actually captured it in 
sight of the fleet, though by the time she had 
manned it the enemy had opened on her with his 
guns. Having made five prizes in all, she returned 
to port. 

In the meanwhile the Wasp, Captain Jones, which 
was returning from Europe with dispatches, the 
time war was declared, had refitted and started on a 



156 SECOND WAK WITH ENGLAND. 

cruise. Sailing northward to the latitude of Boston, 
she made a single capture and returned to the Dela- 
ware. Oh the IStli of October, the very day of 
Yan Rensalaer's defeat at Queenstow^n, she again 
put to sea, and after being four days out, on the 
night of the 17th, made live strange sail. IN ot know- 
ing their strength or character. Captain Jones 
deemed it prudent to keep off till daylight, when he 
would have a better opportunity for observing them. 
In the morning he discovered there were six ships un- 
der the convoy of a brig of war. Two of them were 
armed, but the brig deeming herself alone a match 
for the American, sent them all forward, and waited 
for the latter to approach. The sea was rough from the 
effects of a storm that had swept those latitudes the 
day before, in which Captain Jones had lost his jib 
boom and two of his crew. There w^as no maneuver- 
ing attempted in this tumultuous sea, and the Wasp 
surged on in dead silence, the only sound heard on 
her decks being the roar of the weaves as they burst 
along her sides. She closed on her antagonist with 
a deadliness of purpose seldom witnessed in naval 
combats. She never delivered her broadside till 
within a hundred and eighty feet, and then with 
fearful effect. At first this heroism seemed doomed 
to a poor reward. The fire of the Frolic was inces- 
sant. Seldom had an Englishman been known to 
deliver such rapid broadsides. In five minutes the 



WASP AND FROLIC. 157 

main topmast of the Wasp fell amid the rigging — in 
two minutes more the gafc and mizen top-gallant 
mast followed. Thus, in eight minutes from the time 
the vessels closed, the Wasp was so disabled that her 
destruction seemed almost certain. But while cut 
up herself so terribly aloft, she had struck with 
every broadside the heart of her antagonist. As she 
rolled on the heavy seas her guns w^ere frequently 
under water, and the sailors staggered around their 
pieces like drunken men. Delivering her broad- 
sides as she sunk, she hulled her antagonist at every 
discharge ; while the latter, firing as she rose, made 
sad work with the rigging of the former. Jones seeing 
his spars and rigging so dreadfully cut up, was afraid 
that his vessel would become unmanageable, and 
therefore determined to run foul of his adversary and 
board. But when the vessels closed, the bows of 
the Frolic struck abaft the midships of the Wasp, 
which so swung the head of the latter around that 
she was enabled to throw a raking fire into the for- 
mer. The order, therefore, to board was counter- 
manded, and a fresh broadside directed to sweep her 
decks. In loading some of the guns, the rammers 
struck against the bows of the Frolic. The shot 
went crashing the whole length of the ship, and the 
crew, excited by this hand-to-hand fight, could no 
longer be restrained from boarding. Mr. Biddle, the 
first lieutenant, leaped into the rigging, follow^ed by 



158 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

Lient. Eoclgers and other men, and soon gained tlie 
decks of tlie Frolic — but, in looking round for the 
enemy, they saw but three or four officers standing 
aft, and bleeding. ISTone but the dead and wounded 
cumbered the decks. ]N"ot one was left to haul down 
the colors. The officers threw down their swords in 
token of submission, and Lieutenant Biddle, spring- 
ing into the rigging, lowered the English flag with 
his own hand. The carnage was horrible for so 
small a vessel — nearly a hundred of the officers and 
crew being killed or wounded. The decks were lit- 
erally covered with the mangled forms of men and 
officers. The corpses presented a ghastly appear- 
ance as they rolled from side to side with the tossing 
vessel, while shivered spars and masts covered the 
wreck, and still hanging by the ropes, swung with 
every lurch against its shattered hull. There can 
scarcely be a more mournful sight than a noble ship 
dismantled in mid ocean, her decks crimsoned with 
blood, while on every side, amid broken and rent 
timbers, her gallant crew dismembered and torn, are 
stretched in death. 

The Frolic was a brig carrying in all twenty-two 
guns, while the Wasp, though a ship, carried but 
eighteen, thus making a difference in favor of the 
former of four guns. 

The "Wasp had, therefore, captured a superior 
force in single combat. But in this, as in the two 



WASP CAPTURED. 159 

former engagements I have detailed, tlie same ex- 
traordinary disparity in the respective losses of the 
two vessels was exhibited. While near a hundred 
were killed or wounded in the Frolic, there were 
only five killed and as many wounded in the Ameri- 
can ship. It is not a matter of surprise that the be- 
lief became prevalent in England that our vessels 
were filled with Kentucky riflemen. These men 
had become famous for their accuracy of aim ; and 
it was supposed we had introduced them into our 
navy. In no otlier way could they account for the 
awful carnage that followed every single combat of 
ship with ship. In all her naval history, such de- 
structive work had never been witnessed in so short 
a space of time. The moment an American vessel 
opened her broadsides, death began to traverse the 
decks of her antagonist with such a rapid footstep, 
that men were appalled. 

. This was doubtless owing in a great measure to 
our guns being sighted, an improvement introduced 
by American officers, rendering the aim infinitely 
more accurate. 

The Wasp in this engagement had been fought 
nobly, but her victory proved worse than a barren 
one to her gallant commander and crew. Scarcely 
had the English Jack been lowered to the Stars and 
Stripes, before the latter were struck to the English 
flag. The Poictiers an English seventy-four, soon 



160 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

lioved in siglit and bore down on tlie two vessels ly- 
ing to and clearing away the wreck. The Wasp 
endeavored to make use of her heels, but on turning 
out her sails, they were found completely riddled. 
Flight was out of the question, and both vessels sur- 
rendered. They were taken into Bermuda, where 
the Americans were parolled and allowed to return 
home. 

On the 26th of October, Commodore Bainbridge 
left Boston, accompanied by the Hornet, with the 
intention of joining Captain Porter, in the Essex, 
and passing into the Pacific Ocean, where the 
British fisheries and commerce could be easily 
"struck. Captain Lawrence, cruising southward, at 
length arrived at St. Salvador, where he- found a 
British sloop of war, the Bonne Citoyenne. The lat- 
ter being in a neutral port, was safe. Slie was supe- 
rior to the Hornet, but Lawrence, determined to 
provoke her out to single combat, sent a challenge 
to her commander — Commodore Bainbridge, in the 
meanwhile, promising to keep out of the way. The 
challenge was declined, and if the fact that she had a 
large amount of specie on board, had been given as 
the reason of her refusal, the conduct of Captain 
Green, the commander would have been unobjec- 
tionable. But to intimate, as he did, that the frigate 
would interfere, after Bainbridge had pledged his 
word, and the American Consul offered guarantees, 



CONSTITUTION AND JAVA. 161 

evinced a contemptible spirit, almost as degrading 
as cowardice. 

Captain Lawrence determined, however, not to 
let the vessel go to sea without him, and he there- 
fore blockaded the port. 

Tlie Constitution left the Hornet blockading the 
Bonne Citayenne, and steered south, keej)ing along 
the coast, and on the 29th discovered two sail be- 
tween her and the land, which was about thirty miles 
distant and in full view. One of the vessels being 
small, kept standing in towards the shore, while the 
larger one, a British frigate, the Java, of thirty-eight 
guns, directed her course towards the American. 
Bainbridge, w^ishing to get farther from the land, 
tacked and steered to the south-east for two hours, 
the Englishman following after. About half-past 
one, finding himself clear of the land, Bainbridge 
tacked and stood towards the stranger. At 2 o'clock 
the two vessels were only half a mile apart, the 
Englishman to windward, and showing no colors. 
Tlie order to fire a shot to make the latter set his 
ensign being misunderstood, a whole broadside was 
delivered, and the battle commenced. A tremen- 
dous canixonade followed. The wind was light and 
the sea smooth, so that full scope was given for ma- 
neuvering and accurate aim. Bainbridge, who at the 
commencement of the war, had urged the President 
to send the national ships to sea, and was now in his 



162 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

first figlit, felt not only the promise lie had given the 
Secretary of the i^avy weighing on him, but his re- 
sponsibility as commander of the Constitution, fresh 
with laurels from the capture of the Guerriere. 

He managed his ship with consummate skill, and 
not only foiled every attempt of the enemy to get a 
raking position, but soon obtained one himself, and 
delivered a broadside that swept the decks of the Ja- 
va. The vessels had at length approached within 
pistol shot, and the effect of the rapid broad- 
sides of the Constitution delivered so closely and on 
that smooth sea, could be heard in the rending tim- 
bers of the enemy's ship. Bainbridge, in the mean 
time, received a musket ball in his thigh. He how- 
ever still walked the quarter deck, watching every 
movement of his antagonist, and the effect of every 
broadside. In a few minutes later, a cannon shot 
plunged into the wheel, shattering it in fragments, 
and sending a copper bolt into his leg. Crippled and 
bleeding — refusing even to sit down — he continued to 
limp over the quarter deck, watching the progress of 
the combat, and directing the movements, apparently 
unconscious of pain. The destruction of the wheel 
he felt to be a more serious affair than his wounded 
leg, for he was no longer able to give verbal orders 
to the helmsman. The tiller was of course worked 
below the second deck by ropes and tackles, where 
the helmsman unable to see the sails and steer ac- 



CAPTri^T: OF THE JAVA. 163 

cordinglj, depended entirely on orders transmitted 
to him. This would have been of minor consequence 
in a steady yard to yard-arm fight, but in the constant 
maneuvering of the two vessels, either to get or 
prevent a raking fire, it was a serious inconvenience. 
Still, the Constitution managed to secure this advan- 
tage in almost every evolution. The tremendous fire 
she kept up, so staggered the Englishman, that he re- 
solved to run his vessel aboard at all hazards. He 
came stern on, and his bowsprit passed through the 
mizen rigging of the Constitution. The next mo- 
ment, however, it was cut in two by a cannon shot, 
when the two vessels parted. At length the Consti- 
tution, after wearing twice to- get the right position, 
threw herself fairly alongside her antagonist, and 
they moved on together, yard-arm and yard-arm, 
pouring in incessant broadsides. In a few minutes 
the mizen mast pf the Java went over, and as her 
foremast had gone long before, nothing but the main 
mast was left standing. Her fire had now ceased, 
and Bainbridge, under the impression she had struck, 
set his sails and passed off to windward to repair 
damages, make his masts secure, and be ready for 
any new combat that might be forced on him, in a . 
sea filled with the enemy's cruisers. After an hour 
spent in overhauling his ship he returned, and find- 
ing the enemy's ensign still flying, he passed directly 
across her bows, and was about to deliver a raking 



164 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

fire, when she struck. Tlie combat lasted for more 
than two hom-s, and from the number of evohitions 
on both sides, was brought to a termination seve- 
ral miles from where it commenced. The Java 
was completely dismantled. Her mize.n mast had 
been cut away close to the deck — ^the mainmast fell 
soon after the firing ceased, while nothing but a 
stump of the foremast, some twenty or thirty feet 
long, was left standing. Her bowsprit, too, was 
gone ; in fact, every spar had been shot out of her. 
The Constitution, on the contrary, at the close of the 
long severe conflict, had every spar standing. An 
eighteen pound shot had made an ugly hole through 
her mizen mast, and another had cut a deep gash in 
the foremast, and a qnantity of ropes swinging loose 
in the wind, showed that she had been in the midst 
of cannon balls, but she came out of the conflict as 
she went in, every spar erect and her royal yards 
across. The outward appearance of the ships did 
not present a more striking contrast than their decks. 
Those of the Java were rent and torn, and strewed 
with the dead. A hundred and sixty-one had been 
killed or wounded, while nine killed and twenty-five 
• wounded covered the entire loss of the Constitution. 
Among the prisoners taken was Lieutenant-Gene- 
ral Hi slop, with his staff, on his way to Bombay, as 
Governor. They were all treated with that kindness 
and generosity which ever characterizes a truly 



KINDNESS OF BAINBKIDGE. 165 

brave man — conduct which the English, in the very 
very few opportunities offered them, did not gene- 
rally recij^rocate. 

The severe wounds of Commodore Bainbridge 
could not force him to leave the deck, even after the 
action was over. In his anxiety for his ship and the 
prize, and care of the wounded and prisoners, he 
forgot his sufferings, keeping his feet till eleven 
o'clock at night. These eight hours of constant ex- 
ertion increased the inflammation to an alarming 
degree, and well nigh cost him his life. 

It was a proud day for him ; he had redeemed 
his pledge to the government, and added another 
wreath to the laurels that already crowned the Ame- 
rican navy. 

The Constitution lay by the Java for two or three 
days, in order that tlie wounded might be removed 
with care and safety. "When tliis w^as accomplished, 
the latter vessel being so completely riddled that it 
would be impossible to get her into an American 
port, was blown up. Our gunners fired with too ac- 
curate an aim ; they so destroyed the vessels of the 
enemy, that they could not be secured as prizes. 

The Constitution was carried into St. Salvador, 
where her arrival did not improve the prospect be- 
fore the Bonne Citayenne, should she venture to 
break a lance with the Hornet. She was apparently 
preparing to go to sea that night, with the intention 



166 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

of avoiding lier antagonist if convenient, and fight- 
ing her if necessary. The capture of the Java, how- 
ever, produced a change in her plans, and she took 
eighteen days longer to reflect on the subject. 

Commodore Bainb ridge dismissed the private pas- 
sengers found on board the Java, without regarding 
them as prisoners of war, while all the others were 
released on their parol. Governor Hislop presented 
him with an elegant sword, as a token of his esteem 
and an acknowledgment of the kindness with which 
he had been treated. Captain Lambert, commander 
of the Java, was mortally wounded, and just before 
his removal to the shore, Bainbridge, leaning on the 
shoulders of two oflicers, hobbled into his room to 
restore to him his sword. It was a touching spec- 
tacle, the wounded victor presenting to his dying 
antagonist, the sword he never would wield again, 
accompanying it with expressions of esteem and 
kindly hopes. Captain Lambert received it with 
emotion, and returned his thanks. Two days after, 
it was laid across his breast. It was not dishonored 
in its owner's hand, for liis ship had been gallantly 
fought to the last, and surrendered only when not a 
sail could be set. 

Bainbridge, at this time, was not quite forty years 
of age. Six feet in height, of commanding person, 
and an eye that burned like fire in battle, he moved 
over his quarter deck the impersonation of a hero. 



CHAJRACTER OF BAINBEIDGE. 1.67 

His noble conduct to the prisoners, won him the 
praise even of his enemies. An English Admiral, 
when told of it, shook his head, remarking, that it 
had an ominous look when a young commander, in 
a navy unaccustomed to victory, could treat his foes 
so like an old Spanish cavalier."^ 

The Constitution, in this engagement, carried fifty- 
four guns, and the Java forty-nine. On this dif- 
ference of five guns, the English attempted to erect 
a prop to support their naval pride. The effort to 
prove a superiority in weight of metal and number 
of men, in every victorious American vessel, and 
the changes rung on the difference of a single gun, 
exhibited a sensitiveness that enhanced instead of 
lessened the defeats. If a battle is never to be con- 
sidered equal, until both ships have the same ton- 
nage to a pound, the same number of cannon, and 
the muster roll be equal to a man, it is to be feared 
there never will be one fought. Kot only did the 
English allege that the Constitution was greatly 

* There is a curious incident connected with this battle. A few 
nights before it occurred, Bainbridge dreamed, that he had along 
encounter with a British vessel, and finally captured her. On 
board were several officers, and among them a general. It made 
such an impression on him, that he entered the facts in his jour- 
nal, and spoke of them to his officers. After the engagement, as 
he was standing on deck surrounded by his officers, waiting to re- 
ceive the commander of the Java, he saw the boats carrying Gen- 
eral Hislop approach. Turning to lieutenant Parker, he said, 
" that is the man I saw in my dream.'' 



168 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

superior in weiglit of metal, but decl-iired that her 
success was owing, in a large measure, to her mus- 
ketry ; and yet the Java had not a spar standing at 
the close of the battle. Muskets do not dismantle 
vessels, and leave them mere hulks at the mercy of 
their foe.* The English court of enquiry appointed 
to investigate the subject, asked the boatswain, " if 
they had suffered much on the forecastle from mus- 
ketry." " Yes," he very frankly replied, " and.) like- 
wise., fro7n round and grajpe.^^ The latter was, no 
doubt, true, and very probably the former. 

Bainbridge returned to Boston, and resigned the 
command of the Constitution, which stood greatly 
in need of repairs. 

Lawrence continued, as before stated, to blockade 
the Bonne Citoyenne, until the latter part of Jan- 

* Some time after the peace of 1815, a distinguished officer of 
the English navy, visited the Constitution, then just fitted anew 
at Boston, for a Mediterranean cruise. He went through the ship, 

accompanied by Captain of our service. " Well, what do 

you think of her?" asked the latter, after the two had gone 
through the vessel, and reached the quarter deck again. '* She is 
one of the finest frigates, if not the finest frigate I ever put ray 
foot on board of," returned the Englishman ; " but, as I must find 
some fault, I'll just say, that your wheel is one of the clumsiest 

things I ever saw, and is unworthy of the vessel." Captain ■ 

laughed, and then explained the appearance of the wheel, saying, 
" When the Constitution took the Java, the former's wheel was 
shot out of her. The Java's wheel was fitted on the Constitution 
to steer with, and although we think it ugly, as you do, we keep 
it as a trophy." 



HOENET AND PEACOCK. 169 

nary, when a British seventy-four heaving in sight, 
he was compelled to run in beside his adversary. 
Tlie tables were now turned upon him, and he had 
the prospect of seeing the man-of-war playing the 
part of keeper at the mouth of the port, while his 
own prisoner making use of this protection could 
pass out, and continue his voyage. This was a pre- 
dicament he did not relish, and taking advantage 
of the night, quietly slipped out to sea, and continued 
his cruise. He made a few prizes, and among them 
a brig of ten guns, with $12,500 in specie on board. 
Arriving, at length, at the mouth of the Demarara 
river, he discovered an English brig of war, and gave 
chase to her. The latter running in shore, led him 
into such shoal water, that he deemed it prudent to 
haul off. He, however, did not abandon the hope 
of forcing the ship into an engagement, and while 
beating down on a different tack to get within reach 
of her, he discovered another brig apparently seeking 
to close. He immediately put the head of his ves- 
sel toward that of the stranger. Both were close on 
the w^ind, and as they continued to approach, it was 
evident from their course they must pass each other 
with their yard-arms almost touching. It was now 
nearly half-past five, and the lurid rays of the sun, just 
sinking behind the hills of the main land, flooded the 
two vessels as they silently closed. The moment 
they began to draw abeam, so that the guns bore, 
8 



170 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

the firing began. When faM j abreast, the vessels were 
not more than fifty feet apart. The words of command 
and the shrieks of the wounded could be distinctly 
heard in either vessel, as broadside crashed against 
broadside. It was a stern meeting and parting. As 
soon as the guns ceased to bear, the Englishman wore, 
in order to get a raking fire on the Hornet. The latter, 
however, was too quick for him ; he was first about, 
and coming down on his quarter in " a perfect blaze 
of fire," poured in his broadsides with such close 
range and destructive effect, that in ten minutes 
more the enemy not only struck, but hoisted a sig- 
nal of distress. Mr. Shubrick being sent on board 
to take possession, rejDorted that the vessel was the 
sloop of war. Peacock, -and that she had six fee 
water in the hold. Every eftort was made to save 
the prize, and to get out the wounded. Both vessels 
were anchored ; the pumj^s were rigged on board 
the Peacock, and bailing was resorted to. The ves- 
sel, however, continued to sink, and at last went 
down, carrying nine of her own crew and three of 
the Hornet with her. Two American officers, and 
many more seamen came near losing their lives, in 
tlieir gallant effort to save the prisoners. 

The foremast of the ill-fated vessel protruded 
from the sea, where she went down, remaining for 
some time to mark the place of the battle and the 
victory. 



EFFECT OF THE VICTORY. 171 

The superiority of American gunnery and Ameri- 
can seamanship was again established beyond dis- 
pute. The Hornet was slightly superior in weight 
of metal,^ but she not only out-maneuvered her an- 
tagonist, but surpassed her incomparably in the 
effective use of her guns. The former liad but one 
man killed and two wounded, while of the latter 
there were thirty-eight killed and wounded, and 
among them the commander. The Hornet had but 
a single shot in her hull, while the Peacock was so 
riddled that she sunk in a few minutes after the 
action. 

The thrill of exultation that passed over the land 
at the announcement of the fii'st naval victory, was 
alloyed by the reflection that it was but an isolated 
instance, and hence could hardly justify a belief 
in our naval superiority. But as frigate after frigate 
and ship after ship struck, all doubt vanished, and 
the nation was intoxicated with delight. The suc- 
cessive disasters" that befel our land forces along the 
Canada line, could not check the outburst of enthusi- 
asm on every side. As the news of one victory 
succeeding another was borne along the great chan- 
nels of communication, long shouts of triumph rolled 
after it, and the navy from being unknown and 
Tincared for, rose at once to be the bulwark and 

Peacock. Hornet. 

* Broadside guns, 9 10 

Crew, 130 135 



172 SECOND WAE WITH ENGLAND. 

pride of the nation. All faces were turned to tlie 
ocean to catcli the first echo of those resistless broad- 
sides, that proudly asserted and made good the claim 
to " free trade and sailor's rights." Where we had 
been insulted and wronged the most, there we were 
chastising the oftender with blows that astounded 
the world. If the American Grovernment had been 
amazed at the failure of its deep laid schemes against 
Canada, it was no less so at the unexpected tri- 
umphs at sea. Saved from the deej)est condemna- 
tion by the navy, which it had neglected — forced to 
fall back on its very blunders for encouragement, 
it could say with Hamlet — 

" Let us know, 
Our indiscretion sometimes serves us well 
When our deep plots do pall." 

But our astonishment at these successive and bril- 
liant victories could scarcely exceed that of the old 
world. The British navy had been so long accus- 
tomed to victory, that a single-handed contest of an 
English frigate with that of any other nation, had 
ceased to be a matter of solicitude .to her. The 
maritime nations of Europe had, one after another, 
yielded to her sway, till her flag in every sea on the 
globe extorted the respect and fear which the decla- 
ration, " I am a Roman citizen" did, in the proudest 
days of the Empire. Her invincibility on the ocean 



EFFECT OF THE VIOTOEY. 173 

was a foregone conclusion. The victories of ^Napo- 
leon stopped with the shore — even his " star" paled 
on the deep. Ilis extraordinary efforts and energies 
could not tear from the British navy the proud title 
it had worn so long. His fleets, one after another, 
had gone down before the might of British broad- 
sides, and the sublime sea fights of Aboukir and Tra- 
falgar, were only corroborations of what had long 
been established. K this was the common feeling 
of the Continent it is no wonder that " the English 
were stunned as by the shock of an earthquake." ^ 
Tlie first victory surprised them, but did not disturb 
their confidence. They began to discuss the causes 
of the unlooked for event with becoming dignity, 
but before the argument was concluded, another and 
another defeat came like successive thunder claps, 
till discussion gave way to alarm. The thoughtful 
men of England were too wise to pretend that disas- 
ters occurring in such numbers and wonderful regu- 
larity, could be the result of accident, and feared 
they beheld the little black cloud which the prophet 
saw rising over the sea, portending an approaching 
storm. If, in so short a time, a maritime force of 
only a few frigates and sloops of war could strike 
such deadly blows and destroy the prestige of Eng- 
lish invincibility, what could not be done when that 
navy should approximate her own in strength. 
* Tide Alison. 



174 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

Some of tlie leading journals indulged in foolish 
boasting and detraction of American valor, and 
held up to derision those who saw portents of evil in 
the recent defeats. But the Times spoke the senti- 
ments of those whose opinions were of any weight. 
Said the latter : "^ We witnessed the gloom which 
the event (the capture of the Guerriere) cast over 
high and honorable minds. We participated in the 
vexation and regret, and it is the first time we ever 
heard that the striking of the flag on the high seas 
to any thing like an equal force, should be regarded bj 
Englishmen with complacency or satisfaction." * * * 
" It is not merely that an English frigate has been 
taken, after what we are free to confess, may be 
called a brave resistance, but that it has been taken 
by a neio enemy^ an enemy unaccustomed to such 
triumphs, and likely to be rendered insolent and 
confident by them." Another declared : " Our mari- 
time superiority is in fact a part of the nation's 
right. It has been the right of the conqueror, since 
men associated together in civilization, to give laws 
to the conquered, and is Great Britain to be driven 
from the proud eminence which the blood and 
treasures of her sons have attained for her 
among nations, by a piece of striped bunting flying 
at the mast-head of a iQ\Y fir-huilt fi'igates^ manned 
by a handful of bastards and outlaws ?" 

Such were the different sentiments entertained 



AMERICAN GUNNERY. 1T5 

and expressed in England at the outset, but as tlie 
war progressed, anxiety and alarm took tlie place 
of boasting. 

The war vessels at length grew timorous, and lost 
all their desire to meet an American ship of equal 
rank. It was declared that our frigates were built 
like seventy-fours, and therefore English frigates 
were justified in declining a battle when offered. 
The awful havoc made by our fire affected the seamen 
also, and whenever they saw the stars and stripes 
flaunting from the mast-head of an approaching vessel, 
they felt that no ordinary battle was before them. 
English crews had never been so cut up since the 
existence of her navy. In the terrific batttle of the 
ISTile, Nelson lost less than three out of one hundred, 
and in his attack on Copenhagen, less than four out of 
every hundred. In Admiral Duncan's famous action 
off Camperdown, the proportion was about the same 
as that of the ]N"ile. In 1793, the French navy was in its 
glory, and the victories obtained over its single ships 
by English vessels were considered unparalleled. Yet 
in fourteen single engagements, considered the most 
remarkable, and in which the ships, with one excep- 
tion, ranged from thirty-six guns to fifty-two, the 
average of killed and wounded was only seventeen 
per ship, while in four encounters with American 
vessels, the Constitution, United States and Wasp, 
the average was a hundred and eleven to each vessel. 



176 SECOND WAR WITH, ENGLAND. 

This snccess of the navy at length roused Con- 
gress to do something in its aid, and an act was 
passed on the 2d of January, authorizing the 
" President to build four seventy-fours, and six 
ships of forty-four guns, thus increasing the force of 
the navy tenfold. On the 3d of March, by another 
act, it authorized the building of such vessels on the 
lakes as was deemed necessary to their protection. 
Sums were also voted to the officers and crews as 
prize money. 



CHAPTEE YII. 

Harrison plans a winter campaign — Advance of the army—Battle and massacre at 
the Kiver Eaisin— Baseness of Proctor— Promoted by his Government— Tecum- 
seh, his character and eloquence— He stirs up the Creeks to war — Massacre at 
Fort Mimms— Investment of Fort Meigs— Advance of Clay's reinforcements and 
their destruction— Successful sortie— Flight of the besiegers— Major Croglian"s 
gallant defence of Fort Stephenson. 

The army of General Harrison, which in October 
was slowly pushing its way towards Maiden to De- 
troit, soon became involved in difficulties that com- 
pelled him to abandon his original design of an 
autumnal campaign. The lakes being in possession 
of the enemy, provisions, ammunition and cannon had 
to be transported by land, through swamps and along 
forest paths which could be traced only by blazed 
trees, and traversed only when the ground was 
frozen. He therefore occupied his time in sending 
out detachments and hurrying up his forces, in order 
to be ready to advance when the frozen ground, and 
especially the ice along the margin of the lake 
would facilitate the transportation of his guns and 
munitions of war. 

General Tnpper made two attempts, first from Fort 



178 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

Defiance and afterwards from Fort McArtliur, to 
dislodge the Indians at the Rapids, but failed in 
Loth. Another detachment under Col. Campbell 
left Franklintown in December, to attack the Indian 
villages on the Missisineway, which were reached on 
the 18th, and four out of five destroyed. 

At length tlie column which formed the right of 
this army, nominally of ten thousand men, having 
arrived at Sandusky with the park of artillery. Gen. 
Harrison gave the order for the whole to move for- 
ward. In three divisions, one from Sandusky, one 
from Fort McArtliur, and the third under General 
Winchester, from Fort Defiance, were to advance to 
the Rapids of the Maumee, there take in their sup- 
ply of ordnance and provisions, and proceed at once 
to invest Maiden. Harrison, commanding the cen- 
tral division, started on the 31st of December. Gen. 
Winchester, who had moved six miles from Fort De- 
fiance, to Camp No. 3, did not commence his march 
till the 8th of January. It was a cold bitter day 
and the snow lay over two feet deep in the forest 
when that doomed column, one thousand strong, set 
out for the Rapids, twenty-seven miles distant. The 
troops, most of whom were Kentuckians, were brave 
and hardy, and cheerfully harnessing themselves to 
sledges dragged their baggage through the deep 
snow. Gen. Winchester was ordered to fortify him- 
self at the Rapids and wait the arrival of the other 



FKENCHTOWN. 



179 



troops. But three days after, lie reached the place, 
while constructing huts to receive the supplies on 
the way, and sleds for their transportation to Mai- 
den, he received an urgent request from the inhabit- 
ants of Frenchtown, a small settlement nearly forty 
miles distant, on the Eiver Raisin, to come to their 
rescue. Feeling, however, the importance of fulfill- 
ing his orders, he gave the messengers no encour- 
agement. But another express on the next day, and 
a third the day after, telling him that the whole set- 
tlement was threatened with massacre by the In- 
dians — that only a small force of the enemy held pos- 
session of the place, and by a prompt answer to 
their prayer the ruin of all would be prevented, he 
called a council of war. Col. Allen, and other gal- 
lant officers, pleaded the cause of the helpless set- 
tlers with all the eloquence of true sympathy. They 
declared that the chief object of the expedition was to 
protect the frontiers from the merciless Indians, and 
that brave men spurned danger when the prayers 
of women and children were sounding in their ears. 
Such appeals prevailed over the cooler and safer 
arguments drawn from the necessity of not damag- 
ing the success of the whole campaign by perilling 
one of the wings of the advancing army, and a de- 
tachment of five hundred men, under Colonel 

Jan. 20. 

Lewis was sent forward toPresque Isle, there 
to await the arrival of the main column. But this 



180 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

ofiicer hearing at tlie latter place that an advance 
party of French and Indians were already in pos- 
session ot Frenchtown, hurried forward, and the 
. next day in the afternoon arrived on the banks of 
thp stream oj)posite the village. The river being 
frozen, he immediately ordered the charge to be 
sounded. The column advanced steadily across on 
the ice, and entering the village under a heavy fire 
of the British, forced tliem from their position and 
soon drove them to the woods, when darkness closed 
the combat. Two days after, General "Winchester 
arrived w^ith a reinforcement of two hundred and 
fifty men. He had sent a dispatch to Gen. Harrison, 
then on the Lower Sandusky, announcing his depar- 
ture from his orders, and asking for reinforce- 
ments. The latter sent forward a detachment 
of three hundred, and followed himself the same 
day with a corps of three hundred and sixty men. 
The assistance, however, came too late, for on the 
day before they started, the fate of Gen. Winches- 
ter's army was sealed. Gen. Proctor, at Maiden, 
only eighteen miles distant, hearing of Col. Lewis' 
advance on Frenchtown, hurried down with about 
1500 men and six pieces of artillery to attack him. 
The latter had stationed the main force behind pick- 
ets, in the form of a half circle, but the two hundred 
and fifty men who had arrived with Gen. Winches- 
ter were, through some strange fatuity, placed out- 



BATTLE OF FJRENCHTOWN. 181 

side, fonr liimdred yards distant, and wholly uncov- 
ered. Just as the drums beat tlie morning reveille, 
Proctor advanced to tlie assault. The troops came 
on steadily till within range of the Kentucky rifles, 
when they were met by such a fierce and deadly 
fire that they wheeled and fled in confusion. 

But, while the attack in front was thus repulsed, 
that on the unprotected left wing of two hundred 
and fifty men was, in a few minutes, completely suc- 
cessful. Such a preposterous position, as that to 
to which it was assigned, no sane man could dream 
of holding. Outflanked, and almost surrounded by 
yelling Indians, its danger was perceived when too 
late to remedy it. General Winchester and Colonel 
Lewis, however, each with a detachment of fifty 
men, rushed forward to the rescue, but they only 
swelled the disaster. Their followers were cut down 
and tomahawked, and they themselves captured, and 
taken to Proctor. The latter had paused after his 
attack on the pickets, for nearly one-fourth of the 
regular troops had fallen in that one assault, and he 
hesitated about exposing himself again to the deadly 
fire of Kentucky rifles. It is very doubtful whe- 
ther he would have ventured on a second attack. 
He, however, represented to General Winchester, 
that he could easily set the town on fire, and reduce 
the garrison ; but, in that case, he would not guar- 
antee the lives of the soldiers, or the inhabitants 



182 SECOND WAR AVLTII ENGLAND. 

from tlie barbarity of tlie Indians. General Win- 
chester fully believing that the live hundred men, 
who still gazed undauntedly on the foe, must be 
sacrificed, agreed to a capitulation ; and an officer 
was sent with a flag to Major Madison, on whom the 
command had devolved, informing him of the un- 
conditional surrender of all the troops by his supe- 
rior officer. The brave major, who did not at all 
look upon himself and gallant band as vanquished 
men, indignantly refused to obey so unworthy a 
summons, even from his rightful commander, and 
coolly told the officer, " he should do no such thing ; 
nay, would not surrender at all, unless the side arms 
of the officers would be restored to them at Amherts- 
burg, the wounded promptly and securely trans- 
ported to that post, and a guard sufficient for their 
safety assigned them."* If tlue British commander 
refused to grant these terms, he and his men would 
fight to the last, and, if necessary, die with their 
arms in their hands. This proposition, to which any 
officer fit to wear a sword would have cheerfully ac- 
cepted. Proctor at first rejected, and yielded at last 
only because no other terms would be listened to. But 
no sooner did the garrison surrender, than in direct 
violation of the conditions, he gave unbridled license 
to the soldiers and Indians. The latter were allowed 

« Yide Armstrong's Notices of the War of 1812. 



MASSACRE AT FRENCHTOWN. 183 

to scalp and mutilate tlie dead and wounded, whose 
bleeding corpses crimsoned the snow on every side. 
Proctor, fearing the approach of Harrison, made all 
haste to depart, and the next night reached Amherts- 
burg with the prisoners, who were there crowded 
into a " small and muddy wood yard, and exposed 
throuo:hout the nio;ht to a cold and constant rain, 
without tents or blankets, and with only fire enough 
to keep them from freezing." He had brutally left 
the dead at French town unburied, and sixty of the 
wounded, who were too feeble to march, unprotected. 
By a great stretch of kindness, he allowed two Ame- 
rican surgeons to remain and take care of them. 
He had promised to send sleds the next day, to con- 
vey them to Maiden. These never arrived ; but, 
instead, there came a party of his Indian allies, who 
tomahawked a portion of the wounded, and then set 
fire to the houses, consuming the dead and dying 
together, and responding to the shrieks of the suffer- 
ing victims with yells and savage laughter. Captain 
Hart, a relative of Henry Clay, was among the num- 
ber, as was also a member of Congress. Hart, 
and indeed a large majority of them, belonged 
to the most respectable families of Kentucky. 
One ofiicer was scalped in presence of his friends, 
and with the blood streaming down his pallid fea- 
tures, rose on his kness, and silently and most pite- 
ously gazed on their faces. While in this position, 



184 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

an Indian boy was told by his father to tomahawk 
him. The miskilful stripling struck again and again, 
only i^r educing fai:it groans from the sufferer, till at 
length the father, in showing how a blow should be 
planted, ended the tragedy. The secretary of Gene- 
ral Winchester was shot while on horseback, and 
scalj)ed, and his body stripped and cast into the 
road. The dead, to the number of two hundred, 
were left unburied ; and, for a long time after, hogs 
and dogs were seen devouring the bodies, and run- 
nino^ about crunchins: human skulls and arms in 
their teeth. Most of these facts were sworn to be- 
fore a justice of the peace, and forwarded by Judge 
Woodward, of the supreme court of Michigan, to 
Colonel Proctor, with the remark, " The truth will un- 
doubtedly eventually appear, and that unfortunate 
day must meet the steady and impartial eye of 
history." General Harrison was at the Eapids, hur- 
rying on the reinforcements, when he heard of the 
catastrophe. A few days after, he dispatched Dr. 
M'Kechen with a flag of truce to the river Eaisin, 
to pass thence, if j)ossible, to Maiden. Seized by 
the Indians and stript, he was at length taken to 
Captain Elliot, who kindly forwarded him to Colonel 
Proctor. The latter denied- his mission, declaring 
he was a spy, and would not recognize him, in 
his official character, till the fifth of February. 
Three weeks after, he was accused of carrying on a 



KENTUCKY AEOIJSED. 185 

secret correspondence with the Americans, and with- 
out the form of a trial thrown into a filthy dungeon 
below the surface of the ground, where he lay for a 
whole month, and was finally, liberated, only to 
carry the seeds of disease, implanted by this brutal 
treatment, to his grave. 

When the news of this horrid massacre reached 
Kentucky, the State was filled with mourning, for 
many of her noblest sons had fallen victims to the 
savage. The Governor and his suite were in the 
theatre at the time the disastrous tidings arrived in 
Frankfort. The play was immediately stopped, the 
building deserted, and the next morning a funereal 
sadness rested on the town, and the voice of lament- 
ation — ^like that which went up from Egypt when 
the first born of every house was slain — arose from 
almost every dwelling. But amid it all there was a 
smothered cry for vengeance, which never ceased 
ringing over the State, until it was hushed in 
the shout of victory that rose from the battle-field 
of the Thames. 

Language has no epithets sufficiently opprobrious 
with which to stamp this atrocious deed of Colonel 
Proctor. It combines all the inhuman elements 
necessary to form a. perfect monster — deceit, 
treachery, falsehood, murder, and that refinement of 
cruelty which looks with derision on slow torture, 
and the brutality which can insult the dead. The 



186 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

very apologies wliicli liis countrymen made for him 
only blackened his character. It was said that the 
prisoners surrendei'ed at discretion, and he never 
pledged his word for their protection — a falsehood 
as afterwards fully proved by the prisoners, and a 
statement, whether true or false, utterly useless, only 
to make the whole transaction complete and perfect 
in every part. 'No man who was sufficiently ac- 
quainted with honor to simulate it successfully, 
would have attempted to cover an act so damning 
with such an excuse. The annals of civilized war- 
fare present no instance of the massacre and torture 
of troo^^s who have surrendered themselves prison- 
ers of war on a fair battle-field. An act like this, 
committed by a British officer on the plains of Eu- 
rope, sustained only by such an apology, would cost 
him his head. Absolute inability, on the part of a 
commander to protect his caj)tives, is the only ex- 
cuse a man would ever offer. This Proctor had not, 
for his allies were under his control and he knew it. 
At all events he never attempted to save the prison- 
ers. No guard was left over the wounded, as he 
had stipulated to do — no sleighs were sent back the 
next morning to fetch them to Fort Maiden, as 
promised — ^no effort whatever made in their behalf. 
He never designed to keep his promises or fulfil his 
engagements — he had abandoned the dead and 
wounded at French town to his savage allies, as their 



isr 

part of the reward. Our troops frequently employed 
Indian tribes, but no such atrocities were ever suf- 
fered to sully the American flag. The whole trans- 
action, from first to last, is black as night. His de- 
ceit, treachery, cruelty to officers and men, neglect 
of the dead and abandonment of the wounded to 
worse than death — his after falsehood, meanness and 
cupidity are all natural and necessary parts to the 
formation of a thoroughly base and brutal man. He 
was a disgrace to his profession, a disgrace to the 
army and to the nation which rewarded him for this 
act with promotion. His memory shall be kept fresh 
while the western hemisphere endures, and the 
transaction hold a prominent place m the list of dark 
deeds that stand recorded against the English name. 
Just a month from this date three American seamen 
went down in the Peacock, w^hile nobly struggling 
to save the prisoners. A few years before, some 
Turkish captives, in Egypt, being paroled by Napo- 
leon, were afterwards retaken in a desperate battle 
and sentenced by a council of war to be shot. Al- 
though they had forfeited their lives by the laws of 
all civilized nations, in thus breaking their parole, 
and proved by their conduct that a second pardon 
would simply be sending them as a reinforcement 
to the enemy, and though Bonaparte only carried 
into execution the decision of a council of war, yet 
for this act of his, English historians to this day heap 



188 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

upon liim the epithets of murderer and monster ; while 

not the mere nuirder, which would have been compa- 
ct 
rative kindness, but the abandonment of American 

prisoners to slow torture by fire and the scalping 
knife, was rewarded with promotion in the army. 

The difficulties which our volunteers and new 
levies unaccustomed to such hardships, had to con- 
tend with on the western frontier, may be gathered 
from the march of the three hundred men dispatched 
to the aid of Winchester, but who did not arrive till 
after the massacre. Starting with twenty pieces of 
artillery, in a heavy snow storm, they boldly pierced 
the wilderness, but made the first day only a short 
march. The next day, a courier arrived toiling 
through snow and mud, ordering the artillery to ad- 
vance with all speed. But under the weight of the 
heavy guns, the wheels sunk to their axles with every 
slow revolution, and it was only by dint of great ef- 
fort, they were got on at all. After a weary day's 
march, they encamped around a blazing fire, and 
were just making their scanty meal, when a mes- 
senger entered the camp, stating, that Harrison had 
retreated from the Rapids. A portion immediately 
resolved to push on to his help, and snatching a few 
hours of repose, they, at two o'clock in the morning, 
tumbled up from their couch of snow, and falling into 
marching order, hurried forward through the gloom. 
To add to their discomfort and sufferings, a Janu- 



A WEARY MARCH. 189 

arj rain-storm had set in, making the whole surface 
one yielding mass, into which they snnk sometimes 
to their waists. Drenched to the skin with the pelt- 
ing rain, stumbling and falling at almost every step 
in the dissolving snow, they kept on, and at length 
reached the black swamp, near Portage river. This 
was four miles across, and was covered with a broad 
sheet of water as far as the eye could reach. Out 
of tlie untroubled surface rose the trunks of sickly 
looking and decayed trees, presenting amid the 
black and driving rain, a spectacle sufficient to 
chill and benumb the most manly heart. Ice was 
beneath, but of its strength, or of the depth below, 
no one could tell. The soldiers, however, hurried 
forward into the water, and though the rotten, 
treacherous ice under their feet would often give 
way, letting them down, till their farther descent 
was arrested by their arms ; they kept intrepidly 
on, till, at length, the last mile was won, and 
weary and staggering they emerged on the far- 
ther side. Although on the whole route, there were 
but eight miles where they did not sink below the 
knee, and often to the middle, this gallant band ac- 
complished thirty miles by night fall. Weary, dispi- 
rited and benumbed, they then encamped, and without 
an axe, cooking utensils, or a tent to cover them, 
sat down on logs, and having kindled a feeble fire 
made their meagre repast. They then placed two 



190 SECOND V;ak with ENGLAND. 

logs together to keep them from the melting snow, 
and lay in rows across them, exposed to the "pitiless 
storm. 'Next morning, they continued their march, 
and effected a junction with the army. 

To such hardships and exposures were the sons of 
gentlemen and farmers subjected, in those disheart- 
ening northern campaigns which ended only in 
failure. 

While such scenes were transpiring in the north, 
there occurred one of those events which form the 
romance and poetry of the American wilderness. 
At this time, Michigan was an unbroken forest, with 
the exception of Detroit, and a few settlements along 
the line of the lakes, containing in all, but five or six 
thousand inhabitants. Ohio had but 300,000, while 
2,000 Indians still held their lands within its limits. 
Thirteen thousand constituted the entire white popu- 
lation of Illinois. These states, which now number by 
millions, were then almost wholely unknown, except 
on the borders of the lakes and the Ohio river. All 
through the interior, numerous tribes of Indians 
roomed undisturbed, and hung, in black and threat- 
ening war clouds, around the borders of civilization. 
The English had succeeded in exciting many of 
these to hostilities against the settlers. Their efforts 
were aided in a masterly manner by Tecumseh, a 
Shawnee warrior, who had imbibed a bitter, undy- 
ing hostility to the Americans. Brave, temperate. 



TECUMSEH. 191 

scorning a lie, and despising tlie spoils of war, lie 
fought to restore his race to their ancient rights and 
power. Unable to cope with the Americans alone, 
he gladlj availed himself of our declaration of war 
to form an alliance with the British. Lifted by na- 
tive genius above the vices of savages, he also ex- 
hibited a greatness of intellect, and loftiness of 
character, which, in civilized life, would have led to 
the highest renown. Despising the petty rivalries 
of tribes and chiefs, he became absorbed in the grand 
idea of uniting all the Indian clans in one great and 
desperate struggle for mastery with the whites. He 
had succeeded in carrying out his scheme, to a great 
extent, throughout the North and West. Of erect, 
athletic frame, noble, commanding appearance, with 
the air of a king, and the eloquence of a Demos- 
thenes when rousing the Greeks to arms against 
Philip, he went from tribe to tribe electrifying them 
with his appeals, and rousing them to madness by 
his fiery denunciations against their oppressors. His 
brother, the prophet, accompanied him, — a dark, 
subtle, cunning impostor, to whose tricks Tecumseh 
submitted for awhile, because they foiled the hatred 
and^.4eceit of rival chiefs. As he arose before his 
savage audiences, his imposing manner created a 
feeling of awe ;■ but when he kindled with his great 
subject, he seemed like one inspired. His eye 
flashed fire, his swarthy bosom heaved and swelled 



192 SECOND WAK WITH ENGLAND. 

witli imprisoned passion, liis whole form dilated with 
excitement, and his strong nntiitored soul poured 
itself forth in eloquence, wild, headlong, and resist- 
less, as the mountain torrent. Thoughts, imagery 
leaped from his lips in such life and vividness that 
the stoicism of the Indian vanished before them, and 
his statue-like face gleamed with passion. The peo- 
ple he always carried with him ; but the chiefs, who 
feared his power over their followers, often thwarted 
his plans. "When not addressing the clans, he was 
reserved, cold, and haughty. His withering sar- 
casm, when Proctor proposed to retreat from Mai- 
den ; his reply to the interj)reter, who offering him 
a chair in the presence of Harrison, said, " Your 
father wishes you to be seated;" "My father! the 
sun is my father, and the earth my mother," as he 
stretched himself proudly on the ground, reveal a 
nature conscious of its greatness, and scorning the 
distinctions which the white man arrogated to him- 
self. 

After passing through the northern tribes, he took 
his brother, and went south to the Creeks, to com- 
plete the plan of a general alliance. The journey 
of nearly a thousand miles through the wilderness, 
of these two brothers, — the discussion of their deep- 
laid scheme at night around their camp-fire, — the 
day-dreams of Tecumseh, as gorgeous as ever iiitted 
before the imagination of a Caesar, — the savage em- 



193 

pire destined to rise under his hand, and the great- 
ness he would restore to his despised race, would 
make a grand epic. Pathless mountains and gloomy 
swamps were traversed ; deep rivers swam, and 
weariness and toil endured, not for spoils or revenge, 
bnt to carrv out a OTeatidea. There is a rude, Tus- 
can grandeur about him, as he thus moves through 
the western wilderness impelled by a high purpose, 
— a barbaric splendor thrown about even the mer- 
ciless measures he means to adopt, by the great 
moral scheme to which they are to be subject. His 
combinations exhibited the consummate general. 
"While England occu]3ied us along the sea-coast, he 
determined to sweep in one vast semi-circle from 
Michilimackinac to Florida upon the scattered set- 
tlements. Fires were to be kindled North and South, 
and "West, to burn towards the centre, while civilized 
warfare should desolate the eastern slope of the Al- 
leghanies. Tecumseh had seen Hull surrender, and 
knew that the British had been victorious all along 
the frontier. His prospects were brightening, and 
with this glorious news to back his burning elo- 
quence, he had no doubt of exciting the Southern 
tribes to war. The Chickasaws and Choctaws in 
Mississippi, numbered over thirty thousand ; the 
Creeks twenty-iive thousand, while south of them 
dwelt the large and warlike tribe of the Seminoles. 
His chief mission was to the Creeks, from whom, on 
9 



194: SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

his inotlier's side, lie was descended. This powerful 
clan stretched from the southern borders of Tennessee 
nearly to Florida. The sun in his course looked 
on no fairer, richer land than the country they held. 
Some of them had learned the arts of civilization, 
and, hitherto, had evinced a friendly disposition to 
wards the whites. But British influence working 
through the Spanish authorities in Florida, had 
already prepared them for Tecumseh's visit. An 
alliance, offensive and defensive, had been formed 
between England and Spain; and the armies of the 
former were then in the Peninsula, endeavoring to 
wrest the throne from Bonaparte. The latter, there- 
fore, was bound to assist her ally on this continent, 
and so lent her aid in exciting the Southern Indians 
to hostility. 

The year before, General Wilkinson had been dis- 
patched to take possession of a corner of Lousiania, 
still claimed by the Spanish. He advanced on Mo- 
bile, and seized without opposition the old fort of 
Conde, built in the time of Louis the XIY. He here 
found abundant evidence of the machinations of the 
Spanish and English. Kunners had been sent to 
the Seminoles and Creeks offering arms and bribes, 
if they would attack the frontier Settlements. But 
for this, Tecumseh, with all his eloquence, might 
have failed. Co-operating with the British agents 
in Florida, as he had done with Brock and Proctor 



MASSACRE AT FORT IVHMMS. 105 

in Canada, lie at length saw his cherished scheme 
about to be fulfilled. The old and. more peaceful, — ■ 
those who had settled in well-built towns, with schools, 
and flocks, and farms about them, — oj^posed the war 
which would devastate their land, and drive them 
back to barbarism. But the elocpience of Tecumseh, 
as he spoke of the multiplied wrongs of the Indians, 
and their humiliation,- described the glories to be won, 
and painted in glowing colors the victories he had 
gained in the North, kindled into a blaze the war- 
like feelings of the young; and soon ominous tidings 
came from the bosom of the wilderness that stretched 
along the Coosa and Talapoosa rivers. Having kindled 
the flames, lie again turned his footsteps northward. 
Anxiety and aiarni soon spread among the white 
settlers, and the scattered families sought shelter in 
the nearest forts. Twenty-four had thus cono:re2:ated 
at Fort Mimms, a mere block-hous^ situated on the 
Alabama, near the junction of the Tombigbee. It 
was garrisoned by a hundred and forty men, com- 
manded by Major Beasely, and, with proper care, 
could have resisted the attacks of the savages. But 
the rumors of a rising among the Indians were dis- 
credited. A negro who stated-h.€>i^ad seen them in 
the vicinity, was chastised for spreading a false 
alarm. The night preceding the massacre, the dogs 
growled and barked, showing that they scented In- 
dians in the air. But all these warnings were un- 



196 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

heeded, wlien suddenly, in broad midday, tlie sava- 
ges, some seven Inindred strong, made their ap- 
pearance before the fort, and within thirty feet of 
it, before they were discovered. The gate was open, 
and with one terrific yell they dashed throngh into the 
outer enclosure, driving the panic-stricken soldiers 
into the houses within. Mounting these they set them 
on fire, and shot down every soul that attempted to 
escape. Seeing, at once, their inevitable doom, the 
soldiers fought with the energy of despair. Rush- 
ing madly on their destroyers, they gave blow for 
blow, and laid sixty of them around the burning 
buildings before they were completely overpowered. 
At last, a yell of savage triumph rose over the crack- 
ling of flames, and cries and shrieks of terrified wo- 
men and cliildren. Then followed a scene which 
may not be described. The wholesale butchery, — • 
the ghastly spectacle of nearly ^.iree hundred muti- 
lated bodies, hewed and hacked into fragments, were 
nothing to the inhuman indignities perpetrated on 
the women. Children were ripped from the mater- 
nal womb, and swung as war-clubs against the heads 
of the mothers, and all those horrible excesses commit- 
ted, Avhich seem the ofispring of demons. 

When Teciiiiiseh reached again the British camp in 
Canada, he lu and the American army at fort Meigs. 
Harrison, after Winchester's defeat, instead of boldly 
pushing on in pursuit, had retreated. He was a brave 



FORT MEIGS. 197 

general, but lacked the energy and prompcness neces- 
sary to an efficient commander. Thus far these 
qualities seemed confined solely to the English offi- 
cers, leaving to ours the single one of caution. 
. Fort Meigs was erected on the Maumee, just 
above where it debouches into Lake Erie. Here the 
army remained inactive, serving only as a barrier to 
the Indians, who otherwise would have fallen on 
the Ohio settlements, till the Latter part of April. 
General Harrison employed the winter in getting 
reinforcements from Ohio and Kentucky, and did 
not reach the fort till the first of the month. 

In the mean time, Proctor and Tecumseh had or- 
ganized a large force for its reduction. On the 
twenty -third, the sentinel on watch reported that the 
boats of the enemy, in great numbers, were entering 
the mouth of the river. The fort, at this time, con- 
tained about a thousand men, and was well supplied 
with every thing necessary for a long and stout de- 
fence, while twelve hundred Kentuckians, under 
General Clay, were marching to its relief. 

Finding the fortifications too strong to be carried 
by assault. Proctor sat dow^n before them in regular 
seige. The light troops and Indians were thrown 
across the river, and heavy ba1:^nes erected on the 
left bank. A well-directed cmnonade from the fort 
so annoyed the beseigers, that they were compelled 
to perform most of their work by night. The gar- 



198 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

rison, at first, suffered very little, except from scarcity 
of water. The well in tlie fort iiaving dried up, tliey 
were compelled to draw tlieir supply from the river. 
But the men detailed for this purpose, were con- 
stantly picked off by skulking Indians, who beconv 
ing emboldened by success gradually drew closer 
around the beseiged ; and climbing into tall trees, 
and concealing themselves in the thick foliage, 
rained their balls into the works. On the first of 
May, Proctor having completed his batteries, opened 
his fire. He sent, also, a summons to surrender, 
which was scornfully rejected by Harrison, who 
maintained a brisk cannonade for four days, when the 
welcome intelligence was received, that Clay with 
his twelve hundred Kentuckians was close at hand. 
Harrison determined, at once, to raise the seige, aud 
dispatched a messenger to him, to land eight Imn- 
dred men on the left bank of the river, and carry 
the batteries erected there by storm, and spike the 
guns ; while the remaining four hundred should 
keep down the right bank towards the batteries, 
against which he would make a sortie from the fort. 
The eight hundred were placed under Colonel Dud- 
ley, Who crossing the river in good order, adv^anced 
fiercely on the batteries and swept them. Flashed 
with the easy victor^imd burning to revenge their 
comrades massacred at river Raisin, the men refnsed 
to halt and spike the guns, but drove furiously on 



DEFEAT OF DUDLEY. 19-9 

^fter tlie flying troops, or turned aside to fight tlie 
Indians, who clung to the forest. In the mean time, 
Proctor, aroused by this unexpected onset, hastened 
up from his camp a mile and a halt below with rein- 
forcements, and rallied the fugitives. At this criti- 
cal moment, Tecumseh also joined him, with a large 
body of Indians. Tliese advancing against the disor- 
dered Kentucldans, drove them back on the river. 
The latter fought bravely, but discipline and num- 
bers told too heavily against them, and but one 
hundred and fifty of these gallant, but imprudent 
men reached the farther bank in safety. Colonel 
Dudley w^liile struggling nobly to repair the error 
they had committed in refusing to obey his orders, 
fell mortally wounded. The small, but disciplined 
band of three hundred and fifty, led by Colonel Mil- 
ler, of the nineteenth infantry, against the batteries 
on the right bank, carried them with the bayonet, 
and spiking the guns returned with forty-two pri- 
soners. 

The two succeeding days, the armies remained in- 
active. In the mean time, the Indians began to 
return home in large numbers ; and Proctor deserted 
by his savage allies, resolved to abandon the seige. 
Embarking his heavy ordnance and stores under a 
galling fire from the fort, he made a hasty and disor- 
derly retreat down the river. The loss of the Ameri- 
cans during the seige, was two hundred and seventy 



200 SECOND WAK WITH ENGLAND. 

men killed and wounded, exclusive of the destruction 
vi' a large portion of Clay's command. That of tlie 
British was much less, so that although the attack 
on the fort had failed, the Americans w^ere by far the 
heaviest sulferers. 

Harrison leaving the fort in command of Colonel 
Clay, repaired to Franklinton, the place appointed 
for the rendezvous of the regiments newly raised in 
Ohio and Kentucky. In the mean time, a deputa- 
tion of all the friendly Indian tribes in Ohio waited 
on him, offering their services in the approaching 
conflict on the borders. They were accepted on the 
conditions, they should not massacre their prisoners, 
or wage war against women and children. 

After Harrison's departure. Proctor again ap- 
peared before Fort Meigs. But finding it well gar- 
risoned, he did not attemp)t another attack ; but 
taking five hundred regulars and a horde of In- 
dians, seven hundred in number, suddenly appeared 
before Fort Stephenson in Lower Sandusky. Major 
Croghan, a young man only twenty-one years 
of age, held the post, with but a hundred and 
Bixty men. He had only one cannon, a six pounder, 
while •the fortifications having been hastily con- 
structed, were not strong enough to resist artillery. 
Knowing this, and the smallness of Croghan's force, 
Harrison had previously ordered him to destroy the 
works, and retire on the approach of the enemy. 



201 

But this was impossible, for Proctor took measures - 
at once to cut off liis retreat. When this was ac- 
complishecl, he sent a flag demanding the immediate 
surrender of the place, saying, if the garrison re- 
sisted, they w^ould be given up to massacre. This 
mere stripling, not old enough to be frightened, like 
Hull and Wilkinson, coolly replied, that when he 
got possession of the fort, there would be none left 
to massacre. Kiver Kaisin.was fresh in his memory, 
and lay not far off; but neither the fear of In- 
dian barbarities, nor the dark array, ten times his 
number, closing steadily upon him, could sliake his 
gallant young heart. He was such stuff' as heroes 
are made of. 

This was on Sunday evening, and immediately 
after receiving the bold answer of Croghan, Proc- 
tor opened on the fort from his gun boats, and a 
howitzer on shore. The cannonading was kept up all 
night, lighting up the forest scenery with its fire, and 
knocking loudly on that feeble fort for admission. 
At day break, Croghan saw that the enemy had 
planted three sixes within two hundred and fifty 
yards of the fort. Against this battery, he could 
reply with only his single gun, whose lonely report 
seemed a burlesque on the whole affair. Finding 
that Proctor concentrated his fire against the north- 
western angle, he strengthened it with bags of flour 
and sand. The firing was kept up till late in the 



202 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

afternoon, when seeing that bnt little impression 
was made on the works. Proctor resolved to carry 
them bj storm, and a cohimn, live hundred strong, 
was sent against them. With undannted heart, 
young Croghan saw it approach, w^hile his little 
band, prond of their heroic leader, closed firmly 
around him, swearing to stand by him to the last. 
Some time previously, a ditch six feet deep and nine 
feet wide had been dug in front of the w^orks, 
and the six pounder, loaded w^ith slugs and grape, 
W'as now placed, So as to rake that part of it where 
it was conjectured the enemy would cross. Colonel 
Short commanded the storming column, which he 
led swiftly forw^ard to the assault. As it came 
within range, a w^ell directed volley of musketry 
staggered it for a moment, but Colonel Short rally- 
ing them, leaped first into the ditch, crying out, 
"Give the d — d Yankees no quarter." In a mo- 
ment, the ditch w^as red with scarlet uniforms. At 
that instant, the six pounder was fired. A wild 
shriek followed, and w^hen the smoke cleared away, 
that section of the column wdiich had entered 
the ditch lay stretched on the bottom, wdth their 
leader among them. The remainder started back 
aghast at such sudden and swdft destruction, but 
being rallied they again advanced, only to be sw^ept 
away. All efforts to rally them the third time, were 
fruitless ; thev fled first to the woods, and then to 



AMERICAN HUMANITY. 203 

their boats, and next morning before daybreak dis* 
appeared altogether. This garrison of striplings had 
behaved nobly, and notwithstanding the brutal order 
of the British commander to give no quarter, exhib- 
ited that liumanity without which bravery is not a 
virtue. Moved with pity at the groans and prayers 
for help from those w^ho lay wounded in the ditcli, 
they, not daring to expose themselves outside in -prQ- 
sence of the enemy, handed over the pickets during 
the night, jugs, and pails of water to allay the fever of 
thirst ; and made a hole through which they pulled 
with kindly tenderness many of the wounded, and 
carried them to the surgeon. These men knew that, 
if the attack had proved successful, not one would 
have been left to tell how they fought, or how they 
fell, yet this consciousness did not deaden, for a mo- 
ment, the emotions of pity. This generosity and 
kindness have always characterized the American 
soldier, from the commencement of our national 
existence. The merciless warfare inflicted by Eng- 
land through the savages during the revolution, 
could not make him forget his humanity ; nor the 
haughty, insulting conduct of English officers in this 
second war, force iiini to throw aside his kind and 
generous feelings. 

This attack closed, for the time, the efforts of 
Proctor to get possession of our forts, and he retired 
with his savage allies to Detroit. 



204 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

Our whole western frontier was now in a most 
deplorable condition. Instead of carrying the war 
into the enemy's country, we had been unable to 
protect our own borders. Notwithstanding the re- 
pulse at Fort Meigs, the savages still hung around 
our settlements, making frequent and successful 
dashes upon them ; while the powerful tribe of the 
O sages lying west of the Mississippi, threatened to 
come into Tecumseh's grand scheme, for the exter- 
mination of the whites. Forts Madison and Mason 
were evacuated, leaving Fort Howard, only forty 
miles above St. Louis, our most northern post c n the 
Mississippi. 



CIIAPTEE YIII. 

Chaunoey ordered to Lake Erie to build a fleet— A plan of the campaign— "Woolsey 
—Attack on York— Deatli of General Pike- His character— Capture of Fort 
George— Gallantry of Scott— Repulse of the British at Sacketfs Harbor by Gen- 
eral Brown— Dearborn pursues Vincent— Nidit attack on the American encamp- 
ment— Generals Winder and Chandler taken prisoners— Eetreat of the a: my — 
Keinforced by General Lewis— Dearborn at Fort George — L efeat of ( olonel 
Boestler at Beaver Dams— Attack on Black Rock — Dearborn withdrawn from 
the command of the northern army. • 

While Harrison was pushing forward liis winter 
campaign, Dearborn remained quietly in winter 
quarters, but soon as lie saw tlie river St. Lawrence 
clear of ice, he prepared to renew his invasion of 
Canada. Armstrong having resigned the post of 
minister to France, was appointed Secretary of War 
in place of Eustis. Being an officer of distinction, 
it was thought he would throw more energy into the 
war department, than his predecessor. His plan of 
the campaign was simple, and if prosecuted with 
energy, promised success. Dearborn was to concen- 
trate his forces at the mouth of the ISTiagara river, 
and fall successively en Kingston, York, and Fort 
George, thus cutting off all communication between 
Montreal and Hpper Canada. To carry this out sue- 



206 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

cessfuUy, naval superiority on tlie lalce, for tlie safe 
transmission of troops and ordnance, was indispen- 
sable. From the commencement of the war, the only 
vessel of any pretension which the United States had 
on lake Ontario was the Oneida, of sixteen guns, 
commanded by Lieutenant, afterwards Commodore. 
"VYoolsey. This gallant officer managed to preserve 
his ship, notwithstanding the great efforts of the 
enemy to get possession of it, beating off, in one 
instance, while lying in Sackett's Harbor, six 
British armed vessels. At this time, a vast forest 
fringed the southern shore of Ontario. With the 
exception of here and there a clearing, Sackett's 
Harbor containing some half a dozen miserable 
houses, and Oswego not much larger, were the only 
settlements on the American side, while strong 
forts and old towns lined the Canada shore. This 
large body of water, the control of which was of 
such vast consequence to the protection of Kew York 
state, could be reached from the Hudson, two hun- 
dred miles distant, only by highways nearlj^ impas- 
sable, except in midsummer and winter. But, what- 
ever difficulties might attend the attempt to build 
and man vessels of war on those remote waters, it 
was evident that until it was made, all movements 
against Canada must prove abortive. Captain Isaac 
Chauncey was, therefore, ordered thither the sum- 
mer previous, to take command, and build and equip 



207 

vessels. lie arrived in Sackett's Harbor in 
October, witli forty carpenters, and a hundred 
officers and seamen. To control tlie lake in the 
mean time, he purchased and armed several Ameri- 
can schooners. With these, he on the eighth of 
November set sail, and soon after chased the Royal 
George under the guns of the fort at Kingston, and 
there maintaiiied a spirited contest for lialf an 
hour. After various skirmishes with the enemy, he 
at length returned to Sackett's Harbor, and spent 
tlie winter in building vessels. In the mean 

Nov. 36i . T nr T 

time, the Madison, of twenty-four guns, had 
been completed and launched. 'Nine weeks before, 
her hull and spars were growing in the forest. By 
spring, when Dearborn was ready to commence 
operations, Chauncey had a snug little fleet under 
his command, composed of the Madison, Oneida, 
and eleven armed schooners. 

It having been ascertained that three British ves- 
sels were getting ready for sea at York, it was j'o- 
solved to destroy them. The original plan, therefore, 
of commencing the campaign by an attack on King- 
ston, was by the recommendation of Chauncey 
changed, and the former place designated as the 
first point of attack. 

This fleet of thirteen sail could carry but 1700 
men. With these Chauncey, at length, set sail, and 
on the twenty-fifth of April, anchored off York. 



20 S SECOND WAR Wmi ENGLAND. 

Altliongh it blew a grJe from tlie eastward, the 
boats were hoisted, out, and the binding of the troops 
under General Pike was commenced. The wind 
carried the boats west of the place designated, 
which was an open field, to a thickly wooded shore, 
filled with Indians and sharp shooters. Major 
Forsjthe with a corps of rifles, in two batteaux, 
first approached the shore. Assailed by a shower 
of balls, he commanded the rowers to rest on 
their oars and return the fire. General Pike, who 
was standing on the deck of his vessel, no sooner 
saw this pause, than he exclaimed to his staff with 
an oath, " I can't stand here any longer ; come, 
jumj) into the boat." Ordering the infantry to fol- 
low at once, he leaped into a boat, and with his staff 
was quickly rowed into the hottest of the fire. 
Moving steadily forward amid the enemy's balls, he 
landed a little distance from Forsy the. The advance 
boats containing the infantry reaching the shore at 
the same time, he put himself at the head of the first 
platoon he met, and ordered the whole to mount the 
bank and charge. Breasting the volleys that met 
them, the Americans with loud cheers scaled the 
bank, and routed the enemy. At that moment, the 
sound of Porsythe's bugles was heard ringing through 
the forest. This completed the panic, and the fright- 
ened savages, with a loud yell, fled in all directions. 
The landing of the remaining troops, under cover of 



CAPTURE OF YORK. 209 

tlie well directed lire of Cliauncey's vessels, was suc- 
cessfully made.^ Captains Scott and Young led tlie 
van, and vvitli the fifteenth reghnent, under command 
of Major King, covered themselves wdth honor. 
The ti'oops were then formed in sections, and passing 
through the woods, advanced towards the fort. The 
bridges having been destroyed over the streams that 
intersected the road, only one field piece and a how- 
itzer could be carried forward to protect the head of 
the column,, which at length came under the fire of a 
battery of tw^enty-four pounders. Captain "Walworth, 
of the sixteenth, was ordered to advance with trailed 
bayonets at the charge step, and storm this battery. 
Moving rapidly acr.oss the intervening space, this 
gallant company approached to wdthin a short dis- 
tance of the guns, wdien at the word, "recover 
charge," the enemy deserted their pieces and fied. 
The column then continued to move on up a gentle 
ascent, and soon silenced the remaining battery, and 
took possession of- the w^orks. But just at this mo- 
ment, when a flag of surrender was momentarily 
expected, a magazine containing five hundred bar- 
rels of powder, exploded with terrific violence. 
Huge stones, fragments of shivered timber, and 
blackened corpses were hurled heavenward together, 
and came back in a murderous shower on the victo- 
rious column. Forty of the enemy, and more than 
two hundred Americans were killed or w^ounded by 



210 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

the explosion. The army was stunned for a moment, 
but the band striking np Yankee Doodle, the rent 
column closed up with a shout, and in five minutes 
was ready to charge. General Pike at the time of 
the explosion was sitting on the stump of a tree, 
whither he had just removed a wounded British sol- 
dier. Crushed by the falling fragments, he together 
with a British sergeant, who had been taken pri- 
soner, and Captain ^N'icholson, was mortally wounded. 
Turning to his aid, he exclaimed, " I am mortally 
wounded." As the surgeons and aid were bearing 
him from the field, he heard the loud huzzas of his 
troops. Turning to one of his sergeants, he with an 
anxious look mutely inquired what it meant. The* 
officer replied, ^' The British Union Jack is coming 
down and the stars are going wj?." The dying hero 
heaved a sigh, and smiled even amid his agony. 
He was carried on board the commodore's ship, and 
the last act of his life was to make a sign, that the 
British flag which had been brought to him should 
be placed under his head. 

Thus fell one of the noblest officers in the army. 
Kind, humane, the soul of honor and of bravery, he 
was made after the model of the knights of ohh 
His father had fought in the war of the Revolution, 
and though too old to serve, was still an officer in 
the army. In a letter to his father, dated the day 
before the expedition, he. after stating its character, 



DEATH OF PIKE. 211 

said : " Should I be tlie happy mortal destined to 
turn the scale of war — will you not rejoice, O, my 
father? May heaven be proj)itious, and smile on tlie 
cause of my country. But if we are destined to 
fall, may my fall be like Wolfe's — to sleep in the 
arms of victory." His prayer was answered, and 
the country mourned the loss of a gallant officer, a 
pure patriot, and a noble man. 

Colonel Pearce, on whom the command devolved 
after the fall of Pike, took possession of the barracks 
and then advanced on the town. As he approached 
he w^as met by the officers of the Canadian militia, 
proposing a capitulation. This was done to produce 
a delay, so that the English commander. General 
Slieaffe, with the regulars could escape, and the ves- 
sels and military stores be destroj^ed. The plan was 
successful, the regular trooj^s made good their 
retreat, one magazine of naval and military stores 
w-as burned, together with two of the vessels under- 
going repairs. The third had sailed for Kingston a 
short time before the attack. 

Owing to the explosion of the magazine the loss 
of the Americans was severe, amounting to three 
hundred killed and wounded. ISTotwithstanding the 
exasperation of the victors at the wanton, and as 
they supposed premeditated destruction of life, they 
treated the inhabitants with kiiMness and courtesy. 
Such had been the strict orders of their commander 



212 sf.cjn'd wau weth England. 

before his death. The only violence committed was 
the bm-ning of the house of Parliament, and this 
was owing, doubtless, to the fact that a scalp was 
fomid suspended over the speaker's mace. The sight 
of an American scalp, hanging as a trophy in a pnb- 
lic building, would naturaly exasperate soldiers, 
whose friends and relatives had fallen beneath the 
knife of the savage." 

The troops were at once re-embarked, for the pur- 
j)ose of proceeding immediately to Niagara, but ow- 
ing to foul weather they were a week on the way. 
At length, being reinforced by troops from Sackett's 
Harbor and Buffalo, Dearborn, with some 'G.Ye thou- 
sand men, sailed for Fort George. This fort was sit- 
uated on a peninsula, which it commanded. Dear- 
born resolved to make the landing in six divisions 
of boats, under cover of the fire of the armed 
schooners. The first division, containing five hun- 
dred men, was commanded by Winfield Scott, who 
volunteered for the service, followed by Colonel 
Porter with the field train. The gallant Perry 
offered to superintend the landing of the boats, 
which had to be effected under a heavy fire and 
through an ugly surf. The 27tli of May, early in 
the morning, the debarkation began, and soon the 

* Major Enstis, Captains Scott, Walworth, M'Glarpin, Tonng 
and Moore, and Lieutenants Irvine, Fanning and Riddle, behaved 
with great gallantry in the engagement. 



CAPTURE OF FORT GEORGE. 213 

boats, in separate divisions, were moving towards 
the shore. Fifteen hundred British lined the bank, 
which rose eiglit or ten feet from the Avater. Scott 
rapidly forming his men under the plunging fire uf 
these, shouted, " Forward ! " and began to scale the 
ascent. But, pressed by greatly superior numbers, 
they were at length borne struggling back. Dear- 
born, who was standing on the deck of Chauncey's 
vessel, watching the conflict through his glass, sud- 
denly, saw Scott, while waving his men on, fall 
heavily back down the steej). Dropping his glass 
he burst into "ears, exclaiming : " He is lost ! — He 
is hilled ! " The next moment, however, Scott sprang 
to his feet again, and shouting to his men, he with a 
rapid and determined stop remounted the bank, and, 
unscathed by the volley that met him, knocked up 
with his sword the bayonets leveled at his breast, 
and stepped on the top. Crowding furionsly after, 
the little band sent up their shout around him, on 
the summit. Dressing his line under the concen- 
trated fire of the enemy, Scott then gave the signal 
to charge. The conflict was fierce but short ; the 
British line was rent in twain, and the disordered 
ranks were driven over the field. Scott, seizing a 
prisoner's horse, mounted and led the pursuit. 

Fort George was abandoned, and the garrison 
streamed after the defeated army. They, however, set 
fire to the train of the ma«:azines before thev left. This 



214: SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

was told to Scott, and he instant! j returned with two 
companies to save them. Before he could arrive, 
one magazine exploded, sending tlie fragments in 
everj direction. A piece of timber struck him on 
the breast, and hurled him from his horse. Spring- 
ing to his feet he shouted, " To the gate !" Eush- 
ing on the gate, they tore it from its hinges and 
poured in — Scott was the first to enter, and ordering 
the brave Captains Ilindman and Stockton to extin- 
guish the matches, he ran forward and pulled down 
the flag. Quickly re-mounting his horse he put him- 
self at the head of his column and pressed fiercely 
after the enemy, chasing the fugitives for five miles, 
and halted, only because commanded to do so 
by Colonel Boyd, in person. He had already diso- 
beyed two oTders to stop the pursuit, and had he not 
been arrested by his superior ofiicer in person, would 
soon have been up witli the main body of the British. 

The loss of the enemy in this short but spirited 
combat was two hundred and fifty killed and 
wounded and one hundred prisoners, while that of 
the Americans was only seventy-two. 

The British army, under C4en. Yincent, retreated 
towards Burlington Heights, followed soon after by 
General Winder, with eight hundred men. 

But while Chauncey and Dearborn were thus de- 
stroying the forts on the Niagara, Sir George Pro- 
vost made a sudden descent on Sackett's Harbor. 



ATTACK ON SACKETT S HAEBOK, 



215 



Tlie protection of this place was of vital importance 
to us. Here was our ^ naval depot — here our ship 
yard with vessels on the stocks, and in fact, this was 
the only avaiUible port on the lake for the construc- 
tion and rendezvous of a fleet. Yet the garrison 
left to protect it consisted of only two hundred and 
fifty -dragoons under Lieutenant Colonel Backus, 
Lieutenant Fanning's artillery, two hundred invalid 
soldiers and a few seamen, making in all some five 
hundred men. Two days after the capture of Fort 
George, the fieet of Sir James Yeo, carrying a thou- 
sand men, commanded by Provost, appeared ofi" the 
harbor. Alarm guns were instantly fired and mes- 
sengers dispatched to General Brown, who resided 
eight miles distant at Brownville, to collect the mi- 
litia and hasten to the defence of the place. The 
year before Brown had joined the army and been 
appointed brigadier-general in the militia, but at 
the close of the campaign, being disgusted with its 
management and disgraceful termination, he retired 
to his farm. His heart, however, was in the strug- 
gle, and the courier sent from Sackett's Harbor had 
scarcely finished his message, before he was on his 
horse and galloping over the country. Rallying five 
or six hundred militia he hastened to the post of 
danger. He was one of those whom great exigen- 
ces develop. Brave, prudent, resolute, and rock fast 
in his resolution he was admirably fitted for a mill- 



216 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

tary leader, wliil^ by liis daring and gallant be- 
havior, lie acquired great influence over raw troops. 
Acquainted with all the localities and resources of 
the place, he at the request of Lieutenant Backu?, 
readily assumed the command. A breastwork was 
hastily erected on the only spot where a landing 
could be effected, and the miltia placed behind it. 
The regulars formed a second line near the barracks 
and public buildings, while Fanning, with tli-e artil- 
lerists, held the fort proper, and Lieutenant Chaun- 
cey, with his men, defended the stores at Xavy 
Point. 

The night of the 28th passed in gloomy forebod- 
ings. The troops slept on their arms, and Brown 
and his officers passed the hours in silently and 
cautiously .reconnoitering the shores of the lake. 
That little hamlet embosomed in the 'vast primeval 
forest that stretched away on either side along the 
water's edge and closed darkly over the solitary 
highway that led to the borders of civilization, pre- 
sen.ted a lonely aspect. As hour after hour dragged 
heavily by, every ear was bent to catch the muffled 
sound of the enemy's sweeps, but onlj^ the wind 
soughing through the tree-tops and the monotonous 
dash of waves on the beach disturbed the stillness 
of the scene. Bat as the long looked for dawn 
began to streak the water, the fleet of British boats 
were observed rapidly pulling towards the breast- 



DEFENCE OF BKOWN. 217 

work. Brown bade the militia reserve their lire till 
the eiieray were within pistol shot, and then deliver 
it coolly and accnrately. They did so, and the first 
volley checked the advance of the boats." After the 
second volley, however, the militia were seized with 
a sudden panic, and broke and fled. Coloiiel ^^lills, 
who commanded the volunteers, was shot vrli'le 
bravely attempting to arrest the disorder. Bro-.v]i 
succeeded in stopping some ninety of them, whom 
he posted on a line with the regulars. The British 
having landed, formed in good order, and moved 
steadily forward on this little band of regulars. 
The latter never wavered, but maintained their 
ground with stubborn resolution, and as they were 
gradually forced back by superior numbers, took 
possession of the barracks, behind which they main- 
tained a rapid and galling fire. Backus had fallen, 
mortally wounded, and Lieutenant Fanning was also 
severely wounded, but he still clung to his gun and 
directed its fire with wonderful accuracy. Finding 
the troops able to maintain their position for some 
time yet. Brown exhorted them to hold firm while 
he endeavored to rally the fugitive militia. Kiding 
up to them, he rebuked and entreate them by 
turns, until, at last, when he told them how courage- 
ously and nobly the strangers were defending the 
homes they had basely abandoned to pillage, they 
promised to return and do their duty. Not daring, 
10 



218 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

however, to trust men in an open attack who had 
just fled from a breastwork, although he sol- 
emnly swore he would cut down the first that 
faltered, he led them by a circuitous route along 
the edge of the forest, as if he designed to seize the 
boats and cut off the enemy's retreat. The strata 
gem succeeded, and the British made a rush for 
their boats, leaving their killed and wounded 
behind. Having lost, in all, between four and five 
hundred men, they dared not venture on a second 
attack, and withdrew, humbled and mortified, to the 
Canada shore. The American loss w^as about one 
hundred. 

The successful defence of Sackett's Harbor follow- 
ing so quickly the capture of Forts York and 
George, promised well for the summer campaign. 
But disasters soon checked the rising hopes of the 
nation. General Winder, who had started in j^ur- 
suit of Yincent, found, on his arrival at Forty Mile 
Creek, that the enemy had been reinforced. Halt- 
ing here, therefore, he dispatched a messenger to 
Dearborn for more troops. General Chandler, wath 
anotlier brigade, was sent, when the wdiole force was 
put in motion, and crossing Stony Creek, arrived at 
night-fall, within a short distance of the British 
encampment. Here the army halted, preparatory to 
an attack the next morning. General Yincent, 
although greatly inferior in numbers, felt that his 



NIGHT ATTACK. . 219 

future success depended entirely on his retaining 
his present position, and, therefore, resolved to 
hazard a second battle. Bnt, having, l^j a careful 
reconnoissance, discovered that the American camp 
ffiiards were scattered and careless, while the wliole 
encampment was loose and straggling, he immedi- 
ately changed his plan, and determined to make a 
bold and furious night onset, and endeavor by one 
well-directed blow to break the American army in 
pieces. Following up this determination, he, with 
seven hundred men, set out at midnight, and arriv- 
ing at three o'clock in the morning at the American 
pickets silently and adroitly captured every man 
before he could give the alarm. Pressing with the 
main column directly for the centre of the encamp- 
ment, he burst with the appalling war-cry of the 
savage on the astonished soldiers. The artillery 
was surrounded, and several pieces, with one 
hundred men, were taken prisoners, and among 
them the two generals, Winder and Chandler. 
General Yincent having lost his column in the dark- 
ness, the second in command_ ignorant wdiat course 
to pursue, or what to do, concluded to retreat with 
his trophies. The attack had been well planned 
and boldly carried out, and but for the blunder 
made by Vincent would no doubt have been com- 
pletely successful. As it was the loss was nearly 
equal ; so that the American army was still in a good 



2:i0 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND., 

condition to take the initial and advance. But tlie 
command devolving on Colonel Burns, a cavalry 
officer, wlio declared he was incompetent to direct 
infantry movements, a retreat was resolved upon. 
The army arriving at Forty Mile Creek, a messenger 
was despatched to Dearborn, aslving for orders. 
General Lewis, with the sixth regiment, was imme- 
diately sent forward, with directions to engage the 
enemy at once. An hour after his arrival at canip 
the British fleet was seen slowly beating up abreast 
of it. A schooner was towed near the shore and 
opened its fire, bnt Lieutenant Eldridge, heaving a 
few hot shot into her, compelled her to withdraw. 
In the mean time, some vessels appearing ofi Fort 
George, Dearborn conjectured that an attack upon 
him was meditated, and recalled this division of the 
army. The boats, however, sent to bring them, 
were overtaken by an armed schooner, and many of 
them captured. 

After these catastrophes Dearborn remained. at 
Fort George an entire fortnight, wholly inactive. 
The British, on the other hand, made diligent use of 
this interval, in taking j^ossession of mountain 
passes, and thus accomplished the double purpose of 
securing their own position and narrowing the 
limits of Dearborn's possessions, and destroying his 
communication. The latter, at length, being aroused 
to the danger in which these post^ placed him, 



SURRENDER OF BOESTLER. 221 

despatched Col. Boestler, with six hundred men, to 
break up one of them, seventeen miles distant. 
Acting under wrong information, this small detach- 
ment arrived without molestation at Beaverdams, 
within two miles of the " Stone House" where the 
enemy had fortified themselves. But here they 
were suddenly surrounded by a body of Briiish and 
Indians, and a conflict ensued. Believing it impos- 
sible to effect a safe retreat through the forest, 
pressed by such a force, Colonel Boestler surren- 
dered his whole detachment prisoners of war. This 
ended Dearborn's campaign, and his militaiy ser- 
vices. Colonel Bishop, who showed great activity 
in carrying out the plan of the British commander, 
finding Fort Erie ungarrisoned, took possession of 
it, and crossing suddenly to Black Rock, with 250 
men, drove out the militia and destroyed the guns 
and stores. But the news reaching- Buffalo, a few 
regulars, together with some militia and friendly 
Indians hastened to the fort and expelled the inva- 
ders, killing their commander. 

The successful attacks on York and Fort George 
had removed much of the odium with which the 
disasters of the previous years had covered Dearborn, 
and great resuks were expected from so brilliani an 
opening of the campaign. But his after inaction 
and efforts ending only in failure, disgusted the 
people and Congress. Broken down by disease and 



222 SECOND WAK AVITH ENGLAND. 

demoralized by their long camp life, the soldiers but 
poorlj represented the vigur and energy of the republic. 
Dearborn, like the other generals, received all the 
blame that properly attached to him, together with 
that which belonged to the Government, and when 
the news of Boestler's defeat arrived in Washington, 
the House of Representatives was thrown into a state 
of indignant excitement. Mr. IngersoU was deputed 
to wait on the President and demand Dearborn's 
removal, as Commander-in-Chief of the Western army. 
The request was granted, and on the loth of July he 
resigned his command. He had accomplished, lite- 
rally nothing, in two campaigns, and though he was 
surrounded with difficulties, crippled, and rendered 
cautious by the indifferent and unsuitable troops under 
his command, yet, after making a large allowance 
for all, there is margin wide enough to secure his 
condemnation. His materials became worse instead 
of better imder his management, and the prospects 
on our northern border grew gloomier the longer he 
held conmumd. The energy and vigor of his 
younger days were gone, and the enfeebled com- 
mander of 1812 was a very different man from the 
daring and gallant officer of the Revolution. He 
had stood on the deck of his vessel and seen Pike 
carry York, and young Scott Fort George with mere 
detachments. He had witnessed the bravery of his 
troops under gallant officers, and it needed only 



LAEE CHAMPLAIV. 223 

energy and activity in himself to have made the army 
the pride of the nation. 

Colonel Boyd assumed the command till the arrival 
of Wilkinson in September, but with the ex- 

1813. ^ ' 

ception of some skirmishing, the summer 
passed away in inactivity. 

Tlie British, by capturing two American sloops 
that ventured into a narrow part of the lake, near the 
garrison of Anx Koix, obtained command of this 
water communication, which they held the remainder 
of the season. 



CHAPTEE IX. 

SECONT^ SESSION OF THE TWELFTH CONGRESS. 

Army bill — Quincy and Williams — Debate on the bonds of merchants given for 
British goods imported in contravention of the non-importation act — Debate on 
the bills increasing I'e army to 55,000 men — Williams' report — Quincy's attack — 
Clay's rejoinder— Randolph, Calhoun, Quincy, Lowndes and Clay— State of the 
Treasury. 

The members of Congress, when they assembled 
in October, did not exchange those congratulations 
they promised each other at their adjournment, after 
declaring war. Every plan had proved abortive, 
every expectation been disappointed. True, the 
gallant little navy was left to fall back on. Its suc- 
cesses, however, did not reflect much credit on their 
sagacity, but rather by returning good for evil, had 
administered a severe rebuke to their neglect. The 
Federalists could claim the chief honor there, and 
make both the victoi'ies on the sea and defeats on 
land the grounds of attack. They had always said 
leave Canada alone and go to the sea, there is the 
proper theatre for your exploits. Results had shown 
the wisdom of their counsels. The army had accom- 
plished nothing, still its skeleton ranks must be 



TNCKEASE OF THE AEMY. 225 

filled. A bill was tlierefore introduced, increasing 
the paj^ of the soldiers from six to eight dollars per 
month, and making their ]).>rson3 secure from arrest 
for debt, in order to tempt recruits into the service. 
They were allowed also to enlist either for five yejirs 
or for the war. A clause inserted in this bill, giving 
minors and apprentices, over eio-hteen, permis- 
sion to enlist without the consent of their 
parents and masters, fell like a bumb-shel" in the 
House. This was striking at the verv foundation of 
social and domestic life — viz., parental authority — and 

putting a premium on disobedience and rebellion. 

It furnished a new outlet for Mr. Quincy's wrath, 
who declared that if Congress dared apply it in New 
England the people would resist it, with the laws 
against kidnapping and stealing. He said it was 
odious and atrocious, unequalled, absurd, and im- 
moral. Mr. Williams replied, that Great Britain 
allowed enlistments over sixteen, as did our Govern- 
ment in the Kevolutionary War — nay, that this very 
clause passed in 1798, which became a law. Another 
exciting debate sprung up relative to the 
bonds of the merchants for British goods 
lately imported in contravention of the non-importa- 
tion law. This law, it will be remembered, was 
passed in March, 1811, in retaliation for the orders in 
council, and was to cease with the revocation of those 
orders. Before the news of the declaration of war 
10* 



226 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

arrived in England they were revoked, and American 
owners supposing the nnn-iinportation act would fall 
with it, immediately took in cargoes of British goods. 
These were allowed to depart, as well as others in 
process of landing, and provided with licenses to pro 
tect them a2:ainst British cruisers. Thus a vast 
amount of merchandise arrived in the various ports 
of the United States during the first two or three 
months of the war. The non-importation act being 
still in force, these goods were seized as forfeited to 
the Government. Still many of the district judges 
surrendered them to the clainumts on their giving 
bonds to the amount of their value. As under the 
non-importation law half the value of the forfeited 
goods belonged to the informer, Gallatin proposed 
that, as in this case thei^ was no informer, that por- 
tion should be given to the owners, and the Govern- 
ment put the other half, amounting to nine millions, 
in the public treasury. This proposal was advocated 
by some and strenuously opposed by others. After a 
vehement debate, extending through several 

Dec. 30. ' , 

sittings, all the penalties of the merchants 
were finally remitted. 

Another debate, still more exciting, followed on 
the army bill. This bill contained provisions for 
raising twenty thousand men for one year, increased 
bounty enlistments to sixteen dollars, and appointed 
an officer to do all the recruiting. Mr. Williams, 



AEMY BILL. 227 

chairman of the committee on military affairs, 
Dec. ar, 

introduced it with an able speech. After 

showing that the country demanded such an augmen- 
tation of the army, making the entire regular force 
55,000, and defending the increased bounty and 
appointment of a special officer for the recruiting 
service, he alluded to the disastrous issue of IIulFs 
campaign. Said he, " there are those, perhaps, who 
can sneer at the disasters and misfortunes of the late 
campaign, and will object to this bill, saying there is 
no encouragement to vote additional forces, seeing 
that those which have been already raised have been 
so idly employed. It becomes us all to be equally 
faithful to our country, whether victorious or not ; it 
is in times of discomfiture that the patriot's resolution 
and virtues are most needed. It is no matter by 
what party names we are distinguished, this is our 
country — we are children of the same family, and 
ought to be brothers in a common cause. The mis- 
fortune which befalls one portion should sink deep 
into the breasts of the others also." 

Mr. Clay congratulated the committee and the na- 
tion on the report that had been made. Mr. 

Jan.5,1813j 

Quincy, who saw in every proposition for 
replenishing the army, a project for conquering Can- 
ada, opposed the bill. Assuming that to h-e the ob- 
ject in view, he assailed it with all that sarcasm and 
abuse for which he was distinguished. In the first 



228 SECOND W-AR WITH ENGLAND. 

place, lie said, we could not conquer Canada ; in tlio 
second place, if we could, it would be a barren tri- 
umph. It would not bring peace nor be of any ad- 
vantage to the country. He denounced it as cruel 
and barbarous, declariiio- it was not owino: to the 
Government, that at that moment the bones of the 
Canadians were not mixed with the ashes of their 
habitations. Said he, " Since the invasion of the 
buccaneers, there is nothing like this war. We have 
heard great lamentations about the disgrace of our 
arms on the frontier. Why, sir, the disgrace of our 
arms on the frontier is terrestrial g'lory in comj)ari- 
6on with the disgrace of the attempt ! The whole 
atmosphere rings with the utterance, from the other 
side of the house, of this w^ord, glory ! glory ! What 
glory? The glory of the tiger which lifts its jaws 
all foul and blood}" from the bowels of his victim, 
and roars for his companions of the forest to come and 
witness his prowess and his spoils — the glory of Zeng- 
his Khan, without his greatness — the glory of Bona- 
parte." He asked the members if they supposed the 
vagabonds who should conquer Canada would, when 
their aim was accomplished, heed the orders of 
Government. ISTo ! they would obey the "choice 
spirits'- placed over them, who in turn would not 
consult spinsters and weavers, but take counsel from 
their leader what next they shall do. " Remember," 
said he, "remember, I warn you, he who plants. the 



qtjincy's speech. 229 

American standard on the walls of Quebec, plants 
it for himself, and will parcel it out into dukedoms, 
and seignorities, and counties for his followers." It 
was a solace to him amid all his regrets, that IS'ew 
Eno-land was ^.-uiltless of this war, and that she had 
done her utmost to hurl the wicked authors of it 
from their seats. That way of thinking, he said, 
was not peculiar to him, but was " the opinion of all 
the moral sense and nine-tenths of the intelligence 
of the section from which he came. Some of 
those who are here from that quarter — some of ih& 
household troops who lounge for what they can pick 
up about the Go\^ernment-house will say diflerently — 
those who come here and with their families live 
and suck upon the heart of the treasury — toad-eaters 
who live on elemosynary, ill-purchased courtesy of 
the palace, swallow great men's spittles, get judg- 
ships, and wonder at the fine sights, fine rooms, fine 
company, and most of all wonder how they them- 
selves got here — these creatures will tell you, No — 
that such as I describe are not the sentiments of the 
people of N^ew England. Sir, I have conversed 
upon the question with men of all ranks, conditions 
and parties in Massachusetts, men hanging over the 
plough and holding the spade — the twenty, tliirty 
and fifty acre men, and their answers have uniformly 
been to the same effect. They have asked simply, 
What is the invasion for ? Is it for land ? We have 



230 SECOND WAE WITH ENGLAND. 

enough. Is it for plunder ? There is none there. 
Kew States ? We have more than is good for us. 
Territory? If territory, there must be a standing 
army to keep it, and there must he another standing 
army here to watch tliat. Tliese are judicions, 
honest, j^atriotic, sober men, who when their coun- 
try calls, at any wise or real exigency, will start 
from their native soils and throw their shields over 
their liberties, like the soldiers of Cadmus, yet who 
have heard the winding of your horn for the Cana- 
dian campaign, with the same indifference they 
would have listened to a jewsharp or the twanging of 
a banjo. He declared that Mr. Madison and his 
cabinet had been bent on war from the outset, 
and their eagerness to come to blows with England 
evinced the disposition ascribed to the giant in the 
children's old play : — 

' Fe, faw, fum, 
I smell the blood of an Englishman, 
Be he dead or be he alive 
I will have some.' 

He knew there were those who were ready to open on 
him with the old stale cry of British connection. It 
was not egotism to speak of what belonged to his 
country. It would ill become a man whose family 
had been two centuries settled in the State, and whose 
interest and connections were exclusively Anieri- 



CLAY^S SPEECH. 231 

can, to shrink from liis duty for the yelpings of 
those bloodhound mongrels who were kept in pay 
to hnnt dow]i all wlio opposed the court — a pack of 
mangy hounds, of recent importation, their backs 
still sore with the stripes of European castigation, and 
their necks marked with the check collar/' Fierce 
and vehement, now rising into eloquence, and now 
descending to the coarse language of the bar-room, 
Mr. Quincy dealt his blows on every side — atone mo- 
ment coming down on the administratiun with 
sweeping charges of dishonesty and villany, and 
again rushing fiercely on the solid phalanx of the 
war party, assailing them w^itli scoffs and jeers and 
taunts, till scorn and rage gathered on their counte- 
nances. 

Mr. Clay, in his urbane and gentle manner, rose 
to rej)ly. He took a review of the two parties. 
While the administration was endeavoring to pre- 
vent war by negotiations and restrictive measures, 
the opposition, he said, was disgusted with the timor- 
ous policy pursued, and called for open, manly war. 
They declared the administration " could not be 
kicked into a war." ''War and no restrictions, is 
their motto, wlien an embargo is laid, but the 
moment war is declared, the cry is restrictions but 
no war. They tack with every gale, disj^laying the 
colors of every part}" and of all nations, steady in 
only one unalterable purpose, to steer, if possible, 



232 Sl'COND WAR WTTH ENGLAND. 

into the liaveii uf power. Tlie charge of French 
influence had again and again been made, whicli 
sliould be met in only one manner — bv giving ittlie 
lie direct. The opposition had also amused them- 
selves by heaping every vile epithet which the 
English language afiV>rded on Bonaparte. lie had 
been compared to every monster and beast, from 
that of the Revelations to the most insignificant 
quadruped. He said it reminded him of an obscure 
lady who took it into her head to converse on 
European affairs with an accomplished French 
gentleman, and railed on ^^Tapoleon, calling him the 
curse of mankind, a murderer and monster. The 
Frenchman listened to her with patience to the end, 
and then, in the most affable manner, rcjdied, 
' Madame, it would give my master, the Emperor, 
infinite pain if he knew linw hardly you thouglit of 
him.' Expressing his regret that he was compelled 
to take some notice of Mr. Quincy in his remarks, 
he defended Jefferson against his attacks, and showed • 
how absu]"d were all his statements and scruples re- 
specting the invasion of Canada, by referring to the 
part Xew England took in the capture of Louisburg. 
He then alluded to the treasonable attitude assumed 
by the Federalists, denounced their hypocrisy in 
endeavoring to gain the adhesion of the people to 
their views l)y promising peace and commerce. 
But, said Mr. Clay, I will cpiit this unpleasant sub- 



clay's speech. 233 

ject, I will turn from one whom no sense of 
decency or propriety c('>iil(l restrain from soiling the 
carpet on which he treads, to gentlemen who have 
not forgotten what is due to Ihemselves, the place in 
which we are assemhled, nor to those by whom they 
are opposed." He then went into a review of the 
causes that led to the war, to show that the govern- 
ment had acted with forbearance and moderation, 
and at length took up the subject of impressment. 
After proving the illegality and oppression of this 
right, as claimed and exercised by the English, he 
said, '^ there is no safety to us but in the rule that all 
who sail under the flag (not being enemies) are pro- 
tected by the flag. It is impossible the country 
should ever forget the gallant tars who have won 
for us such splendid trophies. Let me suppose that 
the genius of Columbia should visit one of them in 
his oppressor's prison, and attempt to reconcile him 
to his wretched condition. She Vv^ould say to him in 
the language of the gentlemen on the other side, 
'Great Britain intends you no harm; she did not 
mean to impress you, but one of her own subjects, 
having taken you by mistake ; I will remonstrate 
and try to prevail on her, by peaceable meaiis, to 
release you, but I cannot, my son. fight for you.' 
If he did not consider this mockery he would 
address her judgment and say, 'You owe nie my 
country's protection ; I owe you in return, obedi- 



234 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

ence ; I am no British subject, I am a native of old 
Massachusetts, wliere live mj aged father, my wife, 
my children ; I have faithfully discharged my duty, 
will you refuse to do yo-urs V Appealing to her 
passions, he would continue, ' I lost this eye in fight- 
ing under Truxton with the Insurgente ; I got this 
scar before Tripoli ; I broke this leg on board the 
Constitution when the Guerriere struck.' If she 
remained still nnmoved he would break out in the 
accents of mingled distress and despair, 

* Hard, hard is my fate ! once I freedom enjoyed, 
Was as happy as happy could be ! 
Oh ! how hard is my fate, how galling these chains !' 

I will not imagine the dreadful catastrophe to which 
he would be driven by an abandonment of him to 
his oppressor. It will not be, it cannot be, that his 
country will refuse him protection." This descrip- 
tion of a poor sailor, maimed in his country's 
service, appealing to that country he had served so 
well, for protection, and rejected, cast off, abandon- 
ing himself to despair, sketched as it was with vivid- 
ness and feeling, and nttered in that touching pathos 
for which Clay's rich and flexible voice was remark- 
able, went home with thrilling power to each patriotic 
heart, and tears were seen on the faces of members 
in every part of the house. 



235 

After reviewing the progress of the war, and the 
present attitude of 'England., and dechiring that 
propositions for peace offered by the other party 
were futile, he drew himself to his full height, and 
casting his eye around the house, and pitching his 
voice to the note of lofty determination, closed with, 
" An honorable peace can be attained only by an 
efficient war. My plan would be to call out the 
ample resources of the country, give them a judi- 
cious direction, prosecute the Avar with the utmost 
vigor, strike wherever we can reach the enemy at 
sea or on land, and negotiate the terms of peace at 
Quebec or Halifax. We are told that England is a 
proud and lofty nation, that, disdaining to wait for 
danger meets it half way. Haughty as she is, we 
once triumphed over her, and if we do not listen to 
the counsels of timidity and des2:)air, we shall again 
prevail. In such a cause, with the aid of Provi- 
dence, we must come out crowned with success, 
" hut if we fail, let us fail liJce 7nen, lash ourselves to 
our gallant tars^ and expire together in one common 
struggle, fighting for ' Seamarks rights and Free 
trade.'' " Before this patriotic burst of eloquence 
the harsh and irritating charges and selfish objec- 
tions of the opposition disappeared, like the 
unhealthy vapors of a morass before the fresh breath 
of the cool west wind. 

The declaration of war consummated a revolution 



236 SECOND WAR Wn'H FNCJLAXD. 

begun long before in Congress. The affiiirs of the 
nation were taken out of tlie hands of old and ex])e- 
rienced statesmen, and placed in those of young and 
ardent men. Henry Clay was but thirty-five ; Cal- 
houn, thirty, and Eandolph thirty -nine. Many of 
less note were also young men, full of hope and con- 
fidence, and jealous of their country's honor. In 
their first conflict with the older and more conserva- 
tive members, they revealed the dawning genius and 
statesmanship that afterwards raised them to such 
high renown. The Federalists were represented also 
by men of great strength of intellect and forcible 
speakers. Quincy possessed the elements of a power- 
ful leader, but he at times allowed his passions to 
over-ride all proj)riety and suggestions of prudence. 
"Vehement and fearless, he moved down on the 
enemy in gallant style, but, like Jackson in battle, 
his hostility for the time lost all magnanimity, and 
assumed the character of ferocity. He made tiie 
whole party opposed to him a person, and attacked 
it with all the malignity, scorn, invective, and jeers 
he would one who had grossly abused his person and 
assailed his honor. But there was no secresy or 
trickery in his movements — his followers and his foes 
knew where to find him, and though he often, in his 
intemperance, violated the rules of courtesy, and thus 
exposed himself to retorts that always tell as^ainst a 
speaker, he still was an ugly up[;onent to contend 



QULNCY AND RANDOLPH. 237 

with. Full of energy, inflexible of purpose — aggres- 
sive, bold, and untiring — in a popular cause he would 
have been resistless. There were men in the Feder- 
alist partj at this time capable of carrying even a 
bad cause if relieved from external pressure. But 
the impressment of American 'citizens, massacres in 
the north, and outrages along the sea coast, so 
aroused the national indignation, that both words 
and eflorts became powerless before it. Like the re- 
sistless tide, which bears awaj both strong and weak, it 
hushed argument, drowned explanations, and silenced 
warnings, as it surged on, breaking down barriers^ and 
sweeping away defences that see:::ed impregnable. 

One of the most remarkable men in this Con- 
gress was John Randolph, of Roanoke, as he always 
wrote himself. Possessed of rare endowments, and 
of amjjle wealth, fortune had lavished on him every 
gift but that of sex. He was at this tiuiu exceed- 
ingly fair. Conflicts and rude jostling.^ with the 
world had not yet wrinkled and blackened his 
visage, soured his sensitive temper, or driven him 
into that misanthropy and those eccentricities 
which afterwards disfigured his life. lie was six 
feet high and frail in person, but his brilliant 
black eye fairly dazzled the beholder, as he rose to 
Bpeak, and made him forget the fragile form before 
him. His voice was too thin for public speaking, 
and when pitched high was shrill and piercing. But 



238 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

ill common conversation it was like an exquisite 
instrument, on which the cunning player discoursed 
strange and bewitching music, and no one could 
escape its fiiscination. His first glance round the 
hall attracted silence, and all bent to catch the tones 
of that musical feminine voice. As he became 
excited in his harangue, liis eye burned with in- 
creased lustre, while his changing countenance 
revealed every thought and feeling before it was 
uttered. So expressive was it in transmitting the 
trans.'tiuns that passed over the soul and heart of the 
speaker, that they scarcely needed the assistance of 
language. Sometimes fearfully sulenm and again 
highly excited; he at this time rarely indulged in 
that withering sarcasm which afterwards so often 
drew bluud from his antagonist. With the delicate 
organization and sensibilities of a wonum, joined to 
the thought and ambition of a man, his destiny had 
led him into scenes that spoiled his temper and 
erased some of the most beautiful features of his 
character. Chivalrous and fearless, he at first lent 
his genius to Jefierson's administration, but shrunk from 
the awful consecpiences of war when it approached. 

Calhoun, one of tlie firmest props of the govern- 
ment, was his antipode in almost every particular. 
Though young, his face evinced no enthusiasm — his 
glistening eye no chivalry. With thin lips, high 
cheek bones, rigid, yet not strong lines in his face, 



CALHOUN AND LOWNDES. 239 

an immense head of hair, his j^ersonal appearance 
would never have arrested the curiosity of the be- 
holder but for his eye. This was not brilliant and 
radiant like Randolph's. It did not light up with 
valor, nor burn with indignation, nor melt with pity, 
but changeless as a piece of burnished steel, it had 
a steady, cold glitter, that fascinated for the time 
v^diomsoever it fell upon. Fixed and precise in his 
attitude, and moveless in his person, he poured fotth 
his thoughts and views w^ith a rapiditj, yet distinct- 
ness, that startled one. Untrammeled at this time 
with those abstractions and theories which afterwards 
confused his reasoning faculties and gave an irreco- 
verable twist to his logic ; he brought his cool, clear 
intellect to the aid of the administration, and indi- 
cated by the power and influence he soon acquired, 
his future greatness. 'No sophistry could escape 
him — the stroke of his cimetar cut through all complex- 
ity — and when he had done with his opponent's argu- 
ment it could not have been recognized as that which, 
just before, looked so plausible and consistent. 

Two other representatives from the same state 
were able friends of the administration. William 
Lowndes, a young man, and though not a good 
speaker, nor prepossessing in his appearance, carried 
great influence by mere weight of character, and the 
consistency and firmness of his political opinions. 
He was six feet six inclies high, and slender withal ; 



240 SECOND WAE WITH ENGLA^s'D. 

Liid when he rose to address the house, his unassum- 
'ng and res^jectful manner commanded attention. 
Of great integrity, clear headed and consistent, a 
proud, bright career seemed opening before liim, 
but death soon closed it for ever. 

Mr. Cheves was chairman of committee of Ways 
and Means, and exhibited great ability in that 
station. 

But the pride of the house w^as the young and 
graceful speaker, Henry Clay. Tall, and straight as 
a young forest tree, he was the embodiment of the 
finest qualities of Western character. Possessing 
none of the graces and learning of the schools, nor 
restrained in the freedom of thought and opinion by 
the systems and rules, with which they ofte;i fetter 
the most gifted genius, he poured his whole ardent 
soul and gallant heart into the war. The true genius, 
and final destiny of this republic, lie west of the 
AUeghanies. So there, also, will spring up our no- 
blest American literature. Not shackled by too great 
reverence for the old world, educated in a freer life, 
and growing up under the true influences of American 
institutions, man there becomes a freer, a more un- 
selfish being ; his purposes are nobler, and all his 
instincts better. 

Impelled by pure patriotism, and excited by the 
wrongs and insults heaped upon his country, Clay 
entered into those measures designed to redeem her 



HENKY CLAY. 241 

honor, and maintain her integrity with a zeal and 
Bolicitude, that soon identified him with them. He 
thus unconsciously hecame a leader ; and w^hether 
electrifying the house with his appeals, or in the 
intervals of the sessions of Congress traversing his 
state, and arousing the young men to action, exhib- 
ited the highest qualities of an orator. His stirring 
call to the sons of Kentucky was like the winding 
horn of the huntsman, to which they rallied with 
ardent courage and dauntless hearts. We now 
always associate with Clay, the scattered white 
locks and furrowed face, and slow, majestic move- 
ments. But, at this time, not a wrinkle seamed his 
youthful countenance ; and lithe and active, he moved 
amid his companions with an elastic tread, and 
animated features. His rich and sonorous voice 
was so flexible, that it gave him great power in ap- 
pealing to the passions of men. When moving to 
pity, it was soft and pleading as a woman's ; but 
when rousing to indignation, or to noble and gallant 
deeds, it rung like the blast of a bugle. In moments 
of excitement, his manner became highly impas- 
sioned, his blue eye gleamed with the fire of genius, 
and his whole countenance beamed with emotion. 
Thoughts, images, illustrations leaped to his lips, 
and were poured forth with a prodigality and elo- 
quence, that charmed and led captive all within 
reach of his voice. He loved his country well, and 
11 



242 SECOND WAK "WITH ENGLAND. 

Sling her wrongs with a pathos, that even his ene- 
mies could not withstand. When he was disheart- 
ened by our first reverses on the northern frontier, 
he turned to our gallant navy with a pride and af- 
fection, he maintained till his death. Madison 
leaned on him throughout this trying struggle, as 
his chief prop and stay. 

Though the House, rent by the fierce spirit of fac- 
tion, would often break through the bounds of deco- 
rum and order, he as speaker held the reins of power 
w^iih a firm and just hand. With an easy and afifa- 
ble manner, that attracted every one to him, he yet 
had a will of iron. Under all that frankness and 
familiarity, there was a rock-fast heart, that never 
swerved from its purpose. His manner of carrying 
out his plans, often misled men respecting the 
strength of his will. He was strictly suaviter in 
iiiodofortiter m re. Clay, Calhoun, Randolph, and 
in the next Congress Webster, were striking repre- 
sentatives of the young country rising rapidly 
to greatness. Truly, "there were giants in those 
days.^' 

It was estimated that the entire revenue for the 
ensuing year would be $12,000,000, while the ex- 
penses were calculated at $36,000,000. To make up the 
$24,000,000 deficit, the President was authorized to 
sell $16,000,000 six per cent, stock, continue out- 
standing the former $5,000,000 treasury notes, and 



STATE OF THE TREASURY. 243 

raise $5,000,000 towards a new loan. But tlie more 
important business was transferred to the next Con- 
gress, wliicli was to meet early in the spring. Tlie 
two other principal acts passed this session, was one 
authorizing the government to occuj^y Mobile, and 
all that part of Florida ceded to the United States, 
with Louisiana, and the other giving it j)ower to 
retaliate for the twenty-three Irishmen taken from 
Scott at Quebec, and sent to England to be tried for 
treason. 



CHAPTER X. 

Action between the Chesapeake and Shannon — Kejoicing in England over the vic- 
tory — The Enterprise captures the Boxer — Death of Lieutenant Burrows— Dar- 
ing cruise of the Argus in the English and Irish channels — Lieutenant Allen's 
huMianity— Action with the Pelican— Death of Allen — His character 

Defeats on land had thus far been compensated 
by victories at sea, and to that element we ever 

1813 

turned with pride and confidence. Our exulta- 
tion, however, was for a moment checked by the 
loss of the Chesapeake, within sight of our shores. 
This vessel had started on a cruise in February, 
under the command of Captain Evans. Unsuccess- 
ful in her attempts to find the enemy, and having 
captured but four merchantmen during the whole 
time of her absence, she returned to Boston with 
the character of an '^ unlucky ship," which she had 
borne from the outset, still more confirmed. Captain 
Lawrence succeeded Caj^tain Evans in the command 
of her, and began to prepare for a second cruise. 
An English frigate, the Shannon, was lying off* the 
harbor at the time, and her commauJcr, Captain 



CHESAPEAKE A1ST3 SHANNON. 245 

Broke, sent a challenge to Lawrence, to meet him in 
any latitude or longitude. The Chesapeake was 
just getting under way when this challenge arrived, 
and Lawrence resolved at once to accept it, though 
reluctantly, from the disaffected state in which he 
found his crew. He had joined his vessel but a few 
days before ; the proper 1st lieutenant lay sick on 
shore, and the acting lieutenant was a young man 
unaccustomed to his position, while " there was but 
one other commissioned sea officer in the shij)," two 
midshipmen acting as third and fourth lieutenants. 
Under these circumstances, and with a discontented, 
complaining crew, it was evidently unwise to hasten 
a combat with a ship that had long been preparing 
herself for such an encounter, and was, in every 
way, in the best possible condition. But Lawrence, 
brave and ambitious of renown, knowing, also, that 
the motives which would prompt him to avoid a 
combat would be misconstrued, and having but a 
short time before challenged an English vessel in 
vain, determined to run the hazard, and on the 
morning of the 1st of June, stood boldly out to sea. 
At four o'clock he overhauled the Shannon, and 
fired a. gun, which made her heave to. The Chesa- 
peake, now about thirty miles from land, came down 
under easy sail, receiving the fire of the enemy as 
she approached. Captain Lawrence having deter- 
mined to lay the vessel alongside and make a yard- 



24:6 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

arm to jarJ-ann fight of it, reserved liis fire until 
every gun bore, when he delivered a destructive 
broadside. The clouds of smoke as they puffed out 
upon the sea and rolled upward, thrilled the hearts 
of the hundreds of spectators that crowned the 
dim highlands around Boston harbor. For a few 
minutes the cannonading was terrific, but some of 
the rigging of the Chesapeake being cut to pieces 
one of the sails got loose and blew out, which 
brought the ship into the wind. Then taking stern- 
way she backed on her enemy, and the rigging and 
an anchor becoming entangled, she could not get off. 
This, of course, exposed her to a raking fire, which 
swept her decks. Captain Lawrence, during the con- 
flict, had received a wound in the leg, while several 
of his officers were killed. When he found that his 
vessel would inevitably fall aboard that of the 
enemy, he ordered the drums to summon the board- 
ers. But a negro bugleman attempting to perform 
this d\itj was so frightened that he could not blow a 
note, and verbal orders were distributed. In the 
mean time, Lawrence fell mortally wounded. Carried 
below, his last words were " Don't give up the ship," 
a motto which Perry soon after carried emblazoned 
on his flag as he passed from his helpless, dismantled 
ship, through the enemy's fire, to the Magara. 
With his fall ceased all eflbrts to carry the Shannon 
by boarding. The commander of the latter finding 



REJOICINGS IN ENGLAND. 247 

the qnarter-deck guns of the Chesapeake abandoned, 
gave the orders to board, and the flag which had 
never yet been struck to anything like an equal foe, 
was luiuled down. The destruction on board the 
American ship after she fell foul of the enemy was 
frightful. The entire battle lasted but twelve 
minutes, and yet in that short time a hundred and 
forty-six of her oflScers and crew were killed or 
wounded. The loss of the Shannon was twenty- 
three killed and fifty-six wounded. This victory of 
the British was tarnished by the brutal conduct of 
Lieutenant Faulkener, who took command of the 
prize. The testimony of the surviving officers 
proved him unworthy to serve under the gallant 

commander who had so nobly fought his ship. 

J" 
The Americans had become so accustomed to 

naval victories that they felt grea£ chagrin at this 
defeat, while the unexpected triumph, coming as it 
did on the top of such successive disasters, was 
received with the most extravagant delight in Eng- 
land : the Tower bells were rung, salvos of artillery 
fired, and praises innumerable and honors were 
lavished on Captain Broke. Our navy never re- 
ceived a greater compliment than these unwonted 
demonstrations of joy uttered. The state of the 
crew — the accidental blowing out of the sail — the 
neglect of officers to board — and a variety of excuses 
were offered to solace the American people for this 



248 SECOND WAK WTTTT ENGLAND. 

defeat. There was, doubtless, much force in what 
was said, but the falliug of a mast, or the loss of the 
wheel, or any casualty which renders a vessel un- 
manageable, and gives one or the other a decided 
advantage, is always liable to occur ; hence, un- 
broken success is impossible. Occasional misfortune 
is a law of chance. 

But during the summer and autumn our other 
vessels at sea continued to give a good account of 
themselves. The three little cruisers. Siren, Enter- 
prise, and Vixen, were great favorites, for their 
gallant conduct in the bay of Tripoli. The latter 
was captured early in the war by an English frigate. 
Tlie Siren did not go to sea till next year, when she 
too, after giving a British 74 a chase of eleven 
hours, ^s taken. The Enterprise was kept between 
Cape Ann and 4:he Bay of Fundy, to chase off the 
pri vateers that vexed our commerce in those waters. 
She was a successful cruiser against these smaller 
vessels, capturing several and sending them into 
port. A few days before Perry's victory, this vessel 
left the harbor of Portland, and while sweep- 
mg out to sea discovered a strange sail close 
in shore. The latter immediately hoisted four 
British ensigns and stood on after the Enterprise. 
Lieutenant Burrows, the commander, kept away, 
and ordered a long gun forward to be brought aft 
and run out of one of the windows. He had but 



ENTEEPRISE TAKES THE BOXER. 249 

lately joined tlie ship, and hence was but little 
known by the under officers and men. The latter 
did not like the looks of this preparation, especially 
as he kept carrying on sail. They feared he had 
made np his mind to run, and this gnn was to be 
nsed as a stern-chaser. From the moment they had 
seen the British ensign they were eager to close with 
the enemy, and the disappointment irritated them. 
The seamen on the forecastle stood grouped to- 
getlier, discussing tliis strange conduct on the part of 
their commander for awhile, and then went to their 
officer and begged him to go and see about it — to 
tell the captain they wanted to fight the British ves- 
sel, and they believed they could whip her. The 
latter finally went forward and spoke to the first 
lieutenant, who told him they need not be troubled, 
Mr. Burrows would soon give them fighting enough 
to do. This was satisfactory, and they looked cheer- 
ful again. The preparations all being made, and the 
land sufficiently cleared, Burrows shortened sail and 
bore down on the enemy. As the two vessels, ap- 
proaching diagonally, came within pistol shot of each 
other, they delivered their broadsides, and bore away 
together. The Enterprise, however, drew ahead, 
and Burrows finding himself forward of the enemy's 
bows, oiKlered the helm down, and passing directly 
across his track, raked him with his long gun from 
the cabin window. He then waited for him to come 
11* 



250 SECOND WAR WITH E^^I«iND. 

np on the otiier quarter, when they again moved off 
alongside of each other, firing their broadsides, till at 
length the main top-mast of the English vessel came 
down. Raking her again with his long gun. Bur- 
rows took up his station on her bows, and poured iu 
a rapid and destructive fire. 

The men serving one of the carronades being sa'dly 
reduced in numbers, and unable to manage their 
piece. Burrows stepped forward, and seized hold of the 
tackle to help them run it out. Placing his feet 
against the bulwark to pull w^itli greater force, he 
was struck in the thigh by a shot which glanced 
from the bone and entered his body, inflicting a 
mortal, and exceedingly painful wound. He refused, 
however, to be carried below, and laid down on 
deck, resolved, though writhing in excruciating 
agony, t«^ encourage his officers and men by his 
presence so long as life lasted. 

In forty minutes from the commencement of the 
action the enemy ceased firing, and hailed to say he 
had struck. The commanding officer ordered him 
to haul down his flag. The latter replied they were 
nailed to the mast, and could not be lowered till the 
firing ceased. It was then stopped, when an English 
officer sprang on a gun, and shaking both fists at the 
Americans, cried, " ISTo — no," and swcfre and 
raved, gesticulating, in the most ludicrous manner 



DEATH OF BURROWS. 251 

till he was ordered below. This, together with the 
awkward manner of lowering colors with levers 
and hatchets, drew peals of laughter from the Amer- 
ican sailors. 

Lieutenant Burrows lived till the sword of the 
English commander was placed under his head, 
when he murmured, " I die contented." This vessel, 
which proved to be the Boxer, was terriblj cut up, 
but the number of killed was never ascertained, as they 
were thrown overboard fast as they fell. She had 
fourteen wounded, while the loss of the Americans 
was one killed and thirteen wounded. 

After this the Enterprise, under Lieutenant Ren- 
shaw, cruised south, in company with the Rattle- 
snake, both hav^ing many narrow escapes from 
British men of war. The former captured, off the 
coast of Florida, the British privateer. Mars, of four- 
teen guns. Soon after she was chased by a frigate 
for three days, the latter often being within gunshot. 

So hard was the brig pressed, that Lieutenant 
Renshaw was compelled to throw his anchors, cables, 
and all but one of his guns overboard. At length it 
fell calm, and the frigate began to hoist out her 
boats. The capture of the brig then seemed inevit- 
able, but a light breeze springing up, bringing her 
fortunately to windward, her sails filled, and she 
swept joyfully away from her formidable antagonist. 

Soon after Reushaw was transferred to the Rattle- 



252 ■::':■ second war with England. 

snake, in which vessel he was again so hard pressed bj 
a man of war, that he bad to throw over all his guns 
but two. Afterwards, near the same spot, being 
wedged in between a British frigate and the land, he 
was compelled to strike his flag. 

The Argus, another brig, was launched this year, 
and dispatched in June to France, to carry out Mr. 
Crawford, our newly appointed Minister to that 
country. Having accomplished this mission. Lieu- 
tenant Allen, th-e commander, steered for the coast 
of England, and cruised boldly in the chops of the 
English channel. Here and in the Irish channel, 
this daring commander pounced upon British mer- 
chantmen while almost entering their own ports. He 
was in the midst of the enemy's oruisers, and the 
most untiring w^atchfulness was demanded to avoid 
capture. Unable to man his prizes he set them on 
lire, making the Irish Channel lurid with the flames 
of burning vessels, and lighting up such beacon fires 
as England never before saw along her coast. Great 
astonishment was felt in Great Britain at the daring 
and success of this bold marauder, and vessels were 
sent out to capture him. But for a long time he 
eluded their search, leaving only smouldering ships 
to tell wher^ he had been. This service was dis- 
tasteful to Allen, who was ambitious of distinction, 
and wished foT an antagonist more worthy of his 
attention. Determined to combine as mnch kind- 



HUMANITY OF ALLEN. 253 

ness and linmanity with lii^. duty as lie could, he 
allowed no plundering of private property. All pas- 
sengers of captured vessels were permitted to go be- 
low, and unwatched, pack up whatever they wished, 
and to pass unchallenged. The slightest deviation 
from this rule, on the part of his crew, was instantly 
and severely punished. This humanity, joined to his 
daring acts, brouglit back to the English the days 
of Eobin Hood and Captain Ejdd. 

A cruise like this of a single brig in the Irish 
Channel, could not, of course, continu,e long. Even 
if she could avoid capture, the crew must in time 
sink under their constant and fatiguing efforts. 

On the thirteenth of August, Allen captured a 
vessel from Oporto, loaded with wine. Towards 
morning he set her on fire, and by the light of her 
blazing spars stood away under easy sail. Soon 
after daylight he saw a large brig of war bearing 
down upon him, perfectly covered with canvas. He 
immediately took in sail to allow her to close, and 
when she came within close range gave her a broad- 
side. As the vessels continued to approach the 
firing became more rapid and destructive. In four 
minutes Captain Allen was mortally wounded by a 
round shot, carrying off his leg. His officers imme- 
diately caught him up to carry him below, but lie 
ordered them back to their posts. In a short time, 
however^ he fainted from loss of blood and was 



254 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

taken away. Four niiiiutes after, tlie first lieutenant, 
Watson, was struck in the head by a grape shot, and 
he too was taken behjw. There was then but one 
lieutenant left, Lieut. H. Allen, who though alone, 
fought his ship gallantly. But the rigging was soon 
so cut up that the vessel became unmanageable, and 
the enemy chose his own position. In about a quar- 
ter of an hour Mr. Watson was able to return on 
deck, when he found the brig rolling helplessly on 
the water, a target for the Englishman's guns. He 
however determined to get alongside and board, but 
all his efforts to do so were abortive, and he was 
compelled to strike his colors. His victorious adver- 
sary was the Pelican, a brig of war a fourth larger 
than the Argus. 

Unwilling to believe that this great disparity of 
force was a sufficient reason for the defeat, the 
Americans endeavored to account for it in other 
ways. It was said that the sailors succeeded in 
smuggling wine from the brig burned a few hours 
before, and were not in a condition to fight — others 
that they were so overcome with fatigue that they 
nodded at their guns. Her fire was certainly much 
less destructive than that of other American vessels, 
which one of the officers on board said was owing to 
the powder used. Getting short of ammunition, 
they had taken some powder from an English vessel 
bound to South America This being placed upper- 



CAPTURE OF THE ARGUS. 265 

most in tlie magazine, was used in this engagement. 
It was afterwards ascertained to be condemned pow- 
der, going as usual ^to supply South American and 
Mexican armies. In proof of this, it was said that 
the Pelican's hull was dented with shot, that had not 
force enough to pierce the timbers. The superiority 
of the English vessel in size, however, is a sufficient 
reason, without resorting to these explanations.^ If 
any other was wanted, it would be found in the early 
loss of the superior officers. Such a calamity, at 
the outset of an engagement, will almost invariably 
turn an even scale. One officer cannot manage a 
shi]), and sailors without leaders never fight well. 

Captain Allen was taken ashore and placed in a 
hospital, xis he was carried from the ship, he turned 
his languid eyes on the comrades of his perils and 
murmured, "God bless you, my lads; we shall 
never meet again." Ilis conduct on the English 
coast furnishes a striking contrast to that of Cock- 
burn, along our shores.f 

^ The Pelican was 485 tons, the Argus 298. The former threw 
nearly two hundred pounds more metal than the latter at every 
discharge. 

f Capt. Allen was born in Providence in 1784, and entered the 
navy as a midshipman when sixteen years of age. His father was an 
officer in the Revolution, and served with distinction. Young 
Allen, seven years after his appointment, was lieutenant on board 
the Chesapeake, when Barron shamefully struck his flag to the 
Leopard. He fired the only gun that replied to the British broad- 
side, touching it off with a coal that he plucked from the fire in 



256 SECOND WATi WITH KNOLAND. 

tlie galley. The shot passed directly througli the ward-room of 
the Leopard. His indignation at the condact of Barron over- 
leaped all bounds, and he told him bluntly, " Sir, you have dis- 
graced usy He drew up a letter to the Secretary of the Navy, 
demanding a court martial. " Oh," said he, in writing home, 
" when I act like this, may I die unpitied and forgotten, and no 
tear be shed to my memory." He was a brave and gallant officer, 
and distinguished himself in the action between the United States 
and Macedonian, and took command of the latter after her surren- 
der. His death was a great loss to the navy. 



CHAPTEE XI. 

Co6t of transportation to the northern frontier — English fleet on our coast— 
Cliesapeake blockailed — Blockade of tlie whole coast— Cockburn attacks French- 
town — Burns Havre De Grace — Attacks Georgetown and Frederickstown— 
Arrivl of British reinforcements — Attack on Craney Island — Barbarities com- 
mitted in Hampton — Excitement caused by these outrages — Commodore Hardy 
blockades the northern coast — Torpedoes — Hostile attitude of Massachusetts — 
Remonstrances of its legislature — ^Feeling of the people. 

With such a large extent of ucean and lake coast, 
and so vast and unprotected western and 

1813« 

southern frontiers occupied by hostile savages, 
our ti'oops were necessarily distributed over a wide 
surface. Tlie northern army alone acted on the 
offensive — in all other sections of the country the 
Eepublic strove only to preserve its territory intact. 
The summer in which Dearborn's army lay inactive 
at Fort George, looked gloomy for the nation. Great 
exertions were being made to retrieve our errors, 
and the war in the north was carried on at an enor- 
mous ex})ense. The conveying of provisions and 
arms for such a distance on pack-horses, increased 
immensely the price of every article. It was said 
that each cannon, by the time it reached Sackett's 



258 SECOND WAB WITH ENGLAND. 

Harbor, cost a thousand dollars, while the transport- 
ation of provisions to the armj of Harrison swelled 
them to snch an exorbitant price, that the amount 
expended on a small detachment would now feed a 
whole army. The cost of building the indifferent 
vessels we had on Lake Ontario, was nearly two 
millions of dollars. 

But while these vast expenditures were made for the 
northern army, and Harrison was gradually concentrat- 
ing his troops at Fort Meigs^ and Perry building his 
little fleet on Lake Erie, soon to send up a shout that 
should shake the land, and while the murmuring of 
the savage hordes, that stretched from Mackinaw to 
the Gulf of Mexico, foretold a bloody day approach- 
ing, an ominous cloud was gathering over the 
Atlantic sea-coast. English fleets were hovering 
around our harbors and threatening our cities and 
towns with conflagration. The year before, England 
could spare but few vessels or troops to carry on the 
war. Absorbed in the vast designs of E'apoleon, 
who liaving wrested from her nearly all her allies 
and banded them together under his standard — 
Austria, Prussia, Poland, all Germany pressing after 
his victorious eagles as they flashed above the waters 
of the Niemen — was at that time advancing with a 
half million of men on the great northern power. 
If he should prove successful, England would be 
compelled to succumb, or with a still more over- 



BLOCKADE OF OUR COAST. 259 

whelming force he would next precipitate himself 
npon her shores. But the snow-drifts of Russia had 
closed over that vast and gallant host — his allies had 
abandoned him, and the rising of the nations around 
him, in his weak, exhausted condition, foretold the 
overthrow that soon sent him forth an exile from his 
throne and kingdom. I^eleased from the anxiety 
that had hitherto rendered her comparatively in- 
different to the war on this continent, she resolved to 
mete out to us a chastisement the more severe since 
it liad been so long withheld. Irritated, too, because 
we had endeavored to rob her of her provinces at a 
moment when she w^as the least able to extend pro- 
tection to them, she did not regard us as a common 
enemy, but as one who by his conduct had ceased to 
merit the treatment accorded in civilized warftire. 
The first squadron appeared in the Chesapeake in 
February and blockaded it. Soon after another, 
entered the Delaware under the command of Beres- 
ford, who attempted to land at Lewistown, but was 
gallantly repulsed by the militia, commanded by 
Colonel Davis. The town was bombarded, and 
though the firing was kept up for twenty hours, no 
impression was made upon it. In March the whole 
coast of the United States was declared in a state of 
blockade, with the exception of Khode Island, 
Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. It is not 
known why Connecticut was not also omitted, but 



260 SECOND WAK WITH ENGLAND. 

the invidious distinction made between the eastern 
and the other states grew out of the well known 
hostility of the former to the war. It was intended 
not only as a reward for their good behavior in the 
past, but a guerdon of better things should that 
hostility assume a more definite form. This intended 
compliment to ISTew England was the greatest insult 
she ever received. It was a charge of disloyalty — 
the offer of a bribe for treason — the proffer of the 
hand of friendship, while that same hand was apply- 
ing the torch to American dwellings and carrying the 
horrors of war to the hearth-stone and fire-side. 

Admiral Cockburn, especially, made his name in- 
famous by his wanton attacks on farm houses and 
peaceful citizens, and the license he allowed to the 
brutal soldiery, who were guilty of deeds of shame 
and violence like those which disgraced the troops of 
Wellington at Badajos and St. Sebastian. After 
amusing himself by these predatory exercises on 
peasants, hen roosts, barns, and cattle, he planned the 
more important attack on Frenchtown, a village consist- 
ing of six dwellings and two store houses. Taking with 
him about five hundred marines, he set out at night, 
and rousing the terrified inhabitants by his cannon, 
landed his imposing force, burned the two store 
houses, after takino^ such of their contents as he need- 
ed — committed some petty depi-edations, and retired. 

The American frigate. Constellation, was block- 



BURNING OF HAVKE DE GEACE. 261 

aded in the bay bj this fleet, but all efforts to 
take her were repulsed by her brave crew. 

The scene of his next exploits was Havre de Grace, 

a thriving town, situated on the Susquehanna, about 

two miles from the head of the bay. He set 

May 3. "^ 

out with his barges by night, and at daylight 
next ^lorning awakened the inhabitants with the 
thunder of cannon and explosion of rockets in their 
midst. A scene of consternation and brutality fol- 
lowed. Frightened women and children ran shriek- 
ing through the streets, pursued by the insults and 
shouts of the soldiers. The houses were sacked and 
then set on fire. The ascending smoke and flames of 
the burning dwellings increased the ferocity of the 
men, and acts were committed, from mere wanton- 
ness, disgraceful both to the soldiers and their com- 
manders. The work of destruction being completed, 
the British force was divided into three bodies — one 
of which was ordered to remain as guard, while the 
other two pierced inland, spoiling and insulting the 
farmers, and robbing peaceful travellers. For three 
days this gallant corps remained the terror and pest 
of the surrounding country, and then re-embarked 
with their booty, leaving the inhabitants to return to 
the ashes of their dwellings. Georgetown and 
Frederictown became, in turn, the prey of these 
marauders, and the light of burning habitations, and 
tears of women and children, fleeing in every direc- 



262 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

tion, kindled into tenfold fury the rage of the inha- 
bitants. A sympathetic feeling pervaded Congress, 
and no sooner did it assemble than Clay, the speaker, 
descended from the chair, and demanded an investi- 
gation of the charges brought against British soldiers 
and officers. These excesses, however, were but the 
]>relude to greater and more revolting ones. Admiral 
Warren having arrived in the bay with reinforce- 
ments, and land troops under the command of 
General Beck with, more serious movements were 
resolved upon. ISTorfolk was selected as the first 
point of attack. This important town was j)rotected 
by two forts on either side of the Elizabeth river, 
between which the frigate Constellation lay at anchor. 
Soon after the fleet moved to the mouth of James 
river, and began to prepare for an attack on Craney 
IshiTid, the first obstacle between it and Norfolk. 
Penetrating their design, Captain Tarbell landed a 
hundred seamen on the island, to man a fort on the 
north-west side, while he moved his gun boats so as 
to command the other channel. At day dawn on 
the 22d, fifty barges loaded with troops were seen 
pnlling swiftly towards the island, to a point out of 
reach of the gun boats, but within range of the 
batteries on shore. These immediately opened their 
fire with such precision, that many of the boats were 
cut in two and sunk, and the remainder compelled 
to retire. An attempt from the mainland was also 



BUKNING OF HAMPTON. 



263 



repulsed by the Yirginia militia, under Colonel 
Eeattj. The enemy lost in this attack between two 
and three hundred men, while the Americans suffered 
but little. Three days after the repulse at Craney 
Island, Admiral Cockburn, assisted by General Beck- 
with, made a descent on Hampton, a small fishing 
town by Hampton roads. The riflemen stationed 
there, and the militia, bravely resisted the land- 
ing, but were finally driven back by superior num- 
bers. The place was then entered and plun- 
dered, nut merely of its public stores, but private 
property. Tiiis little fishing town was literally 
sacked by the British army of twenty-five hundred 
men. Private houses were rifled, even the commu- 
nion service of the church was carried away, while 
the women were subjected to the most degrading 
insults, and ravished in open day! The American 
army marched into Mexico over the bodies of their 
slain comrades, and were fired upon for a whole day 
from the roofs of houses after the city had surren- 
dered, yet no such acts of violence were ever charged 
on them as were committed under the sanction of the 
British flag in this little peaceful, solitary, and de- 
fenceless villao-e. The authorities of the difierent 
towns took up the matter — witnesses were examined, 
aftidavits made, and the proceedings forwarded to 
the British Commander. The charges were denied, 
but they stand proved to this day, a lasting stigma 



264 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

on the name of Cockburn. This rear admiral in the 
British navy not only allowed such outrages in one 
instance, but repeatedly. There was a harmony in 
his proceedings refuting the apology of uninten- 
tional baseness. His expeditions were those of a 
brigand, and he changed civilized warfere into ma- 
rauding, robber}^, and pillage. The news of these 
enormities, aggravated as tliey passed from mouth to 
mouth, spread like wildfire amid the people. Stir- 
ring appeals were heard in every village and town. 
Calm reflection and reason were indignantly spurned ; 
woman, manhood, patriotism, all cried aloud for ven- 
geance, and the war-cry of an aroused and indignant 
people swelled like thunder over the land. The 
leaders of the anti-war faction saw with consterna- 
tion this rising sympathy of the masses. It threat- 
ened, for the time, to sweep away their influence 
entirely. The British committed a vital error in 
allowing these excesses, for they harmonized the 
hitherto divided feelings of the people, and furnished 
the upholders of the war with a new and powerful 
argument for unity and energy. The public ear had 
become accustomed to the tales ot impressment and 
charges of the invasion of neutral rights. Tiie atroci- 
ties on the north-western frontier aflected the .west 
more than the east, where they were charged rather 
to the Indians than to the British Government, and 
were inflicted on an invading force. But a system 



COOKBIJEN AND HAEDY. 265 

of warfare so abhorrent to humanity, aroused into 
activity, a spirit which gave tenfold strength to the 
administration. 

While the Chesapeake remained blockaded, Ad- 
miral Cockburn, with a portion of the fleet, moved 
southward, preceded by the history of his deeds. 
The coasts of the Carolinas and Georgia were 
thrown into a state of agitation bordering on frenzy. 
Mrs. Gaston, wife of a member of Congress, died in 
convulsions from the terror inspired by this British 
Admiral. He, how^ever, effected but little. Land- 
ing at Portsmouth he seized some booty and a few 
slaves. From the outset he had attempted to per- 
suade the slaves to rise against their masters, and 
actually organized a company of blacks to aid him 
in his marauding expeditions. 

The squadron blockading the coast north of the 
Chesapeake was commanded by Commodore Hardy, 
the reverse of Cockburn in every quality that dis- 
tinguished the latter. He waged no warfare on 
defenceless towns, and villages, and w^omen and chil- 
dren. Humane and generous, he had more cause to 
complain of the conduct of the excited inhabitants, 
tlian they of his. Although he landed at various 
places he allowed his troops to commit no violence. 

The American coast, south of Cape Cod, was at 
length thoroughly blockaded, so that not onh^ were 
our ships at home shut in port, but those endeavor- 
12 



266 SECOND WAK WITH ENGLAND. 

ing to enter from without captured, and our wliole 
coasting trade was cut off, causing tiie country to 
feel severely the miseries of war. The Constellation 
remained blockaded in the Chesapeake, while the 
Macedonian, United States, and sloop Hornet, in 
endeavoring to escape from Kew York by the way 
of the Sound, were chased into J^ew London, 
where they were compelled to lay inactive. In the 
mean time, in accordance with an act of Congress, 
passed in the winter, allowing half of the value of 
war ships to those who should destroy them by 
other means than armed or commissioned vessels of 
the United States, great ingenuity was exhibited in 
the construction of torpedoes. Several attempts 
were made to blow up the British frigates, but with- 
out success. The Plantagenet, however, riding in 
Lynn Haven bay, came near falling a victim to one 
of these missiles, Vvdiich spread terror through the 
British fleet. After several unsuccessful efforts, Mr. 
Mix, to whom the torpedo was entrusted, at length 

succeeded in getting it near the bows of the 
July a-1-. 

vessel, unperceived. The " all's well" of 

the watch on deck had scarcely pealed over the 

w^atei', when it exploded with terrific violence. A 

red and purple column suddenly rose fifty feet in 

the air, and bursting, fell like a water-spout on deck. 

The ship rolled heavily in the chasm, and a general 

rush was made for the boats, one of which was 



HOSTILITY OF THE FEDEKALISTS. 267 

blown into the air. Commodore Kardy remon- 
strated against tliis mode of warfare, as contrary to 
the usages of civilized nations, and it was soon 
abandoned. The terror it inspired, however, made 
him more wary in approaching tlie coast. A boat- 
guard was kept rowing around the ships all night, 
and the most extraordinary precautions taken to 
protect them from these mysterious engines of 
destruction. 

While oar blockaded coast was thus filling Con- 
gress with alarm, and the whole land with gloom 
and dread, the bold and hostile attitude which Mas- 
sachusetts was assuming, both deepened the general 
indignation and added to the embarrassments under 
which the administration struggled. Owing, doubt- 
less, to the failures which marked the close of the 
previous year, the elections in the New England 
states during the early spring had terminated very 
satisfactorily to the Federalists. Strong was elected 
Governor of Massachusetts by a large majority, 
while both branches of the Legislature were under 
the control of the Federalists. In Connecticut and 
'New Hampshire they had also triumphed, and Ver- 
mont, although her state government and delegation 
to Congress were Democratic, was still claimed as 
Federalist in the popular majority. 

On the other side, New York and Pennsylvania 
spoke loudly for the Administration, the latter by 



268 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

offering to loan a million of dollars to the govern- 
ment, as an offset to the efforts of the Federalists to 
prevent the loan proposed by government being 
taken. 

During the summer, acting under a hostile mes- 
sage received from the governor, the Massa- 
chusett-e liegishiture drew up a remonstrance, 
denouncing the war as wrong and unwise, prompted 
by desire of conquest and love of France, rather 
than the wish to maintain the rights of the people. 
The report of a connnittee against the incorporation 
into the Union of Louisiana, as the commencement 
of western annexation, destined, if not arrested, to 
destroy the preponderance of the Eastern states, was 
also sustained in this remonstrance, which closed with 
a solemn appeal to the Searcher of all hearts for the 
purity of the motives which prompted it. Quincy in 
the House, and Otis and Loyd in the Senate, were 
the Federalist leaders. Not content with taking this 
hostile attitude to the General Government, the 
Legislature soon after refused to pass resolutions 
complimentary to Captain Lawrence for his gallant 
conduct in capturing the Peacock, and passed 
instead, the following resolution introduced by a 
preamble, declaring that such connnendations en- 
couraged the continuance of the war. " Resolved^ 
as the sense of the Senate of Massachusetts, that in 
a war like the present, waged without justifiable 



ATTITUDE OF MASSACHUSETTS. 269 

cause, and prosecuted in a manner showing that 
conquest and ambition are its real motives, it is not 
becoming a moral people to express any appro- 
bation of military or naval exploits, which are not 
immediately connected with the defence of our 
sea-coast and soil." This was not a mere expression 
of feeling, but the utterance of a principle acted on 
from that time to the end of the war. This proud 
assumption of state rights and denunciation of the 
war when our coasts w^ere blockaded by British 
cruisers and our frontiers drenched in blood, met 
the stern condemnation of the people through- 
out the land, and raised a clamor that frightened 
the authors of it. Party spirit had made Massachu- 
setts mad, and blinded by her own narrow views, 
she wished to wrap herself up in her isolated dignity 
and keep forever from the great brotherhood of 
the Union those western territories where the hardy 
settler had to contend not only with the asperities 
of nature but a treacherous foe. That West which 
she then abjured has since repaid the wrong by 
pouring into her lap countless treasures, and furnish- 
ing homes for tens of thousands of her sons and 
daughters. Allowing the spirit of faction to over- 
ride the feelings of nationality, she refused to 
rejoice in the victories of her country or sympathize 
in her defeats. South Carolina has since assumed a 
similar hostile attitude to the Union, but it yet 



270 SECOND AY ATI WITH ENGL A XT). 

remains to be seen wlietlier she Tronld not sink her 
private quarrels when the national rights were 
struck down and the country wasted by a common 
foe. As a state, not only repudiating the authority 
of the general government and the sacredness of 
the Union, but also refusing to stand by the republic 
in the hour of adversity and darkness, Massachu- 
setts occupied at that time a preeminence in our 
history wdiich it is to be hoped no other state will 
ever covet. 



• CHAPTER XII. 

Perry obtains and equips a fleet on Lake Erie— Puts to sea— Kentacky marines- 
Description of tlie battle— Gallant bearing of Perry— Slaughter on the Lawrence — 
Perry after the battle— Burial of the officers- Kxultation of the people— Harrison 
advances on Maiden— Flight of Proctor— Battle of the Thames, and death of Te- 
cumseh. 

But while the conntry, torn with internal strife 
and wasted bj external foes, looked with sad. fore- 
bodings on the prospect before it, there snddenlj 
shot forth over the western wilderness a gleam of 
light, like the bright lines of sunset, betokening a 
fairer to-morrow. Perry's brilliant victory, followed 
by the overthrow of Proctor a few weeks after, 
thrilled the land from limit to limit. On the frontier, 
where we had met with nothing bnt disgrace, and 
towards which the common eye turned with chagrin, 
w^e had cancelled a portion of our shame, and relieved 
the national bosom of a part of the load that op- 
pressed it. 

After the capture of Forts York and George, by 
which the river of Niagara was opened to American 
navigation, Captain Perry was able to take some 



272 SECOND WAR WITH ICNGLAND. 

vessels bouglit for the service from Black Rock into 
Lake Erie. The Lake at the time was in the pos- 
session of the British iieet, commanded bj Captain 
Barclay, and Perry ran great hazard in encounter- 
ing it before he could reach Presque Isle, now Erie, 
where the other vessels to compose his squadron had 
been built. He, however, reached this spacious har- 
bor just as the English hove in sight. Having now 
collected his whole force he made vigorous prepara- 
tions to get to sea. By the first of August he was 
ready to set sail^ but the enemy lay off the harbor, 
across the mouth of which extended a bar, that he 
was afraid to cross under a heavy fire. To his great 
delight, however, the British fleet suddenly disappear- 
ed — Captain Barclay not dreaming that his adversary 
was ready to go to sea, having gone to the Canada 
shore. 

Perry was at this time a mere youthj'^of twenty- 
seven years of age, but ardent, chivalrous, and full of 
energy and resource. From the time he arrived on 
the frontier, the winter previous, he had been un- 
ceasing in his efforts to obtain and equip a fleet. 
Materials had to be brought from Pittsburgh and 
Philadelphia, dragged hundreds of miles over bad 
roads and across unbridged streams. But after 
his vessels were ready for sea, he was destitute 
of crews. To his repeated and urgent calls for 
men, only promises were returned, nor did they 



PEERY PUTS TO SEA. 273 

arrive till the English had been able to finish and 
equip a large vessel, the Detroit, which gave them a 
decided preponderance. Perry was exceedingly anx- 
ious to attack the hostile fleet before it received this 
accession of strength, but prevented from doing this 
through want of men, he was at last compelled to 
abandon all his eflbrts, or take his chance with his 
motley, untrained crew, in an action where the supe- 
riority was manifest. He boldly resolved on the 
latter course, and taking advantage of Barclay's sud- 
den departure, gave orders for the men to repair im- 
mediately on board ship, and dropped with eight of his 
squadron down the harbor to the bar. It was Sabbath 
morning, and young Perry, impressed with the great 
issues to himself and his country from the step he 
was about to take, sent his boat ashore for a clergy- 
man, requesting him to hold religious services on 
board his ship. All the officers of the squadron 
were assembled on the deck of the Lawrence, and 
listened to an impressive address on the duty they 
owed their country. Prayer was then offered for 
the success of their cause. Young Perry reverently 
listening to the voice of prayer, as he is going forth 
to battle, and young Macdonough lifting his own in 
supplication to God, after his decks are cleared for 
action, furn :. striking and beautiful examples to 
naval nieu. 

Next morning the water being smooth, the gun8 
12^ 



Q^-l SECOND WAR WITH EXGLAXD, 

of the Lawrence, tlie largest vessel, were taken out, 

and two scows placed alongside and filled till tliey 

sunk to the water's edge. Pieces of timljer were 

tlien run through the forward and after ports of the 

vessel, and made fast by blocks to the scows. All 

being ready, the water was pumped out of them, 

and the vessel slowly rose over the bar. She stuck 

fast, however, on the top, and the scows had to be 

sunk again before she finally floated clear and 

moved ofi" into deep water. The men worked all 

night to get this one brig over. The schooners 

passed easily and moored outside. The Lawrence 

was scarcely once more afloat before the returning 

fleet hove in sight. Perry immediately prepared for 

action. But Barclay after reconnoitering for half an 

hour crowded all sail and disaj^peared again up the 

lake.^ The next day Perry sailed in pursuit, but 

after cruising a whole day without finding the enemy, 

returned to take in supplies. He was about 
Aug.ia. .1-1 . T . p 

to start again, when he received information 

of the expected approach of a party of seamen under 
tlie command of Captain Elliot. Waiting a day or 
two to receive this welcome aid, he set sail for San- 
dusky, to put himself in communication wuth Gen. 
Harrison and the north-western army. He then 

* It was said he had accepted an* invitation to dine in a Cana- 
dian town, and expected to be back before the departure of his 
enemy. 



ADVANCE OF THE BKITISH FLEET. 275 

returned to Maiden, where the British fleet 

Aug. 35. T . . _, , _^ 

la^^, and going into Fut-m Bay, a haven in 
its vicinity, waited for the enemy to come out. Jlere 
many of his crew were taken sick with fever, which 
at last seized him, together with tlie three surgeons 
of the squadron. He was not able to leave his 
cabin till the early part of September, when he 
received an additional reinforcement of a hundred 
volunteers. / These troops came from Harrison's 
army, and were mostly Kentucky militia and sol- 
diers from the 28th regiment of infantry, and all 
volunteers for the approaching battle. The Ken- 
tuckians, most of them, had never seen a square 
rigged vessel before, and wandered up and down ex- 
amining every room and part of the ship without 
scruple. Dressed in their fringed linsey-woolsey 
hunting-shirts, with their muskets in their hands, 
they made a novel marine corps as ever trod the deck 
of a battle-ship. ___ 

On the morniijg of the 10th of September, it was 
announced that the British fleet w^as cominsr 

Sept. 10. 

out of Maiden, and Perry immediately set 
sail to meet it. His squadron consisted of three 
brigs, the Lawrence, Niagara and Caledonia, the 
Trippe, a sloop, and five schooners, carrying in all 
fifty-four guns. That of the British was composed 
of six vessels, mounting sixty-three guns. It was a 
beautiful morning, and the light breeze scarcely ruf- 



-«b SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

fled the surface of tlie water as the two squadrons, 
with all sails set, slowly approached each other. 
'I he weather-guage, at first, was with the enemyj but 

vvrj impatient to close, resolved to waive tliis ad- 
\ aiitage, and kept standing on, when the wind unex- 
pectedly shifted in his favor. Captain Barclay ob- 
serving this, immediately hove to, and lying with his 
toi3sails aback, waited the approach of his adversary. 
With all his canvass out. Perry bore slowly and 
steadily down before the wind. The breeze was so 
light that he could scarcely make two miles an hour. 
The shore was lined with spectators, gazing on the 
exciting spectacle, and watching with intense anxiety 
the movements of the American squadron. Not a 
cloud dimmed the clear blue sky over head, and the 
lake lay like a mirror, reflecting its beauty and 
its purity. Perry, in the Lawrence, led the line. 

Taking out the flag which had been previously pre- 
pared, and mounting a gun-slide, he called the crew 
about him, and said, " My brave lads, this flag con- 
tains the last words of Captain Lawrence. Shall I hoist 
it ?" ".Aye, aye, sir," was the cheerful resj^onse. Up 
went the flag with a will, and as it swayed to the 
breeze it was greeted with loud cheers from the deck. 
As the rest of the squadron beheld that flag floating 
from the mainmast of their commander's vessel, and 
saw " Don't give up the ship I" was to be the signal 



PEEPAEATIONS FOE BATTLE. 277 

for action, a long, loud cheer rolled down the line. 
The excitement spread below, and all the sick that 
could move, tumbled up to aid in the approaching 
combat. Perry then visited every gun, having a 
word of encouragement for each captain. Seeing 
some of the gallant tars who had served on board 
the Constitution, and many of whom now stood with 
handkerchiefs tied round their heads, all cleared 
for action, he said, " Well, boys, are you ready V 
" All ready, your honor," was the quick response. 
" I need not say anything to you. You know how 
to beat those fellows," he added smilingly, as he 
passed on. 

The wind was so light that it took an hour and a 
half, after all the preparations had been made, to 
reach the hostile squadron. This long interval of 
idleness and suspense was harder to bear than the 
battle itself. Every man stood silently watching the 
enemy's vessels, or in low and earnest tones conversed 
with each other, leaving requests and messages to 
friends in case they fell. Perry gave his last direc- 
tion, in the event of his death, to Hambleton — tied 
weights to his public papers in order to have them 
ready to cast overboard if he should be defeated — • 
read over his wife's letters for the last time, and then 
tore them up, so that the enemy should not see those 
records of the heart, and turned away, remarking, 
" This is the most im]}ortant day of my life.'^^ The 



278 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

deep seriousness and silence that had fallen on the 
shij), was at last broken by the blast of a bugle that 
came ringing over the water from the Detroit, 
followed by cheers from the whole British squadron. 
A single gun, whose shot went skipping past the 
Lawrence, first uttered its stern challenge, and in a 
few minutes all the long guns of the enemy began to 
play on the American fleet. Being a mile and a 
half distant, Perry could not use his carronades, and 
he was exjDosed to this fire for a half an hour before 
he could jjet within ranc^e. Steerinir straio'ht for the 
Detroit, a vessel a fourth larger than his own, he 
gave orders to have the schooners that lagged behind 
close up within half cable's length. Those orders, 
the last he gave during the battle, were passed by 
trumpet from vessel to vessel. The light wind 
having nearly died away, the Lawrence sufiered 
severely before she could get near enough to open 
w^ith her carronades and she had scarcely taken her 
position before the fire of three vessels was directed 
upon her. Enveloped in flame and smoke. Perry 
strove desperately to maintain his ground till the 
rest of the fleet could close^ and for two hours 
sustained without flinching this unequal contest. 
The balls crashed incessantly through the sides of the 
ship, dismounting the guns and strewing the deck 
with the dead, until at length, with " every brace 
and bow-line shot nv\-ay," she lay an unmanageable 



THE BATTLE. 279 

wreck on the water. But still through the smoke, as 
it rent before the heavy broadsides, her coh')rs were 
seen flying, and still gleamed forth in the snnliglit 
that glorious motto — *' Don't give v]) the' sJiijj /" 
Calm and unmoved at the slaughter around him and 
his own desperate position. Perry gave his orders 
tranquilly, as though executing a maneuvre. Al- 
though in his first battle, and unaccustomed to scenes 
of carnage, his face gave no token of the emotions 
that mastered him. Advancing to assist a sailor 
whose gun had get out of order, he saw the poor 
fellow struck from his side by a twenty-four pound 
shot and expire without a groan. His second lieu- 
tenant fell at his feet. Lieutenant Brooks, a gay, 
dashing officer, of extraordinary personal beauty, 
while speaking cheerfully to him, was dashed by a 
cannon-ball to the other side of the deck and 
mangled in the most frightful manner. His shrieks 
and imploring cries to Perry to kill him and end his 
misery, were heard even above the roar of the 
guns in every part of the ship. The dying who strew- 
ed the deck would turn their eyes in mute inquiry 
upon their youthful commander, as if to be told they 
had done their duty. The living, as a sweeping shot 
rent huge gaps in the ranks of their companions, 
looked a moment into his fixce to read its expression, 
and then stepped quietly into the places left vacant. 
Lieutenant Yarnall, with a red handkerchief tied 



280 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

round Tiis head, and anotlier ruund his neck, to staunch 
the blood flowing iron two wounds, his nose swelled 
to a monstrous size, from a splinter having passed 
through it, disfigured and covered with gore, 
moved amid this terrific scene the very genius of 
havoc and carnage. Approaching Perry, he told 
him every oflScer in his division was killed. Others 
were given him, but he soon returned with the same 
dismal tidings. Perry then told him he must get 
along by himself, as he had no more to furnish him, 
and the gallant man went back alone to his guns 
Once only did the shadow of any emotion pass over 
the countenance of this intrepid commander. He 
had a brother on board, only twelve years old. 
The little fellow who had had two balls pass through 
his hat, and been struck with splinters, was still 
standing by the side of his brother, stunned by 
the awful cannonading and carnage around him, 
when he suddenly fell. For a moment Perry 
thought he too was gone, but he had only been 
knocked down by a hammock, which a cannon ball 
had hurled ao;ainst him. 

At length every gun was dismounted but one, 
still Perry fought with that till at last it also was 
knocked from the carriage. Out of the one hundred 
men with whom a few hours before he had gone into 
battle, only eighteen stood up unwounded. Looking 
through the smoke he saw the Niagara, apparently 




^^^^itSjf 



1^,: J 



PERKY PASSES TO THE NIAGARA. 281 

uncrippled, drifting out of tiie battle. Leaping into a 
boat with his young brother, he said to his remaining 
officer, '' If a victory is to be gained, I will gain it,'' 
and standing erect, told the sailors to give way with 
a will. The enemy observed the movement, and 
immediately directed their fire upon the boat. Oars 
were splintered in the rowers' hands by musket balls, 
and the men themselves covered with spray from the 
round shot and grape, that smote the water on every 
side. Passing swiftly through the iron storm' he 
reached the Niagara in safety, and as the survivors 
of the Lawrence saw him go up the vessel's side, 
they gave a hearty cheer. Finding her sound and 
whole, Perry backed his maintop sail, and ilung out 
his signal for close action. From vessel to vessel 
the answering signals went up in the sunlight, and three 
cheers rang over the water. He then gave his sails 
to the wind and bore steadily down on the centre of 
the enemy's line. Reserving his fire as he advanced, he 
passed alone through the hostile fleet, within close pis- 
tol range, wrapt in flame as he swept on. Delivering 
his broadsides right and left, he spread horror and death 
through the decks of the Detroit and Lady Prevost. 
Pounding to as he passed the line, he laid his vessel 
close to two of the enemy's ships, and poured in his 
rapid flre. The shrieks that rung out from the De- 
troit were heard even above the deafening cannon- 
ade, while the crew of the Lady Prevost, unable 



282 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAIO). 

to stand the fire, ran below, leaving their wounded, 
stunned, and bewildered commander alone on deck, 
leaning his face on his hand, and gazing vacantly on 
the passing ship. The other American vessels having 
come up, the action at once became general. To the 
spectators from the shore the scene at this moment 
was indescribably thrilling. Far out on the calm 
water lay a white cloud, from out whose tortured 
bosom broke incessant flashes and thunder claps — 
the loud echoes rolling heavily away over the deep, 
and dvinor amid the silence and solitude of the 
forest. 

An action so close and murderous could not last 
long, and it was soon apparent that victory inclined 
to the Americans, for while the enemy's fire sensibly 
slackened, the signal for close action was still flying 
from the iNlas-ara, and from every American vessel 
the answering signal floated proudly in the wind. 
In fifteen minutes from the time the first signal was 
made the battle was over. A white handkerchief 
waved from the taffrail of the Queen Charlotte an- 
nounced the surrender. The firing ceased ; the 
smoke slowly cleared away, revealing the two fleets 
commingled, shattered, and torn, and strewed with 
dead. The loss on each side was a hundred and 
thirty-five killed and wounded. 

Perry having secured the prisoners, returned to the 
Lawrence, lying a wreck in the distance, whither she 



TTTE VICTOEY. 283 

had helplessly drifted. She had struck her flag 
before 'he closed with the Niagara, but 'it was now 
flying again. 'Not a word was spoken as he went 
over the vessel's side ; a silent grasp of the hand w^as 
the only sign of recognition, for the deck around 
was covered witli dismembered limbs, and brains, 
while the bodies of twenty officers and men lay in 
ghastly groups before him. 

As the sun ^yent down over the still lake his last 
beams looked on a mournful spectacle. Those ships 
stripped of their spars and canvass, looked as if they 
had been swept by a hurricane, while desolation 
covered their decks. At twilight the seamen w^ho 
had fallen on board the American fleet were com- 
mitted to the deep, and the solenm burial service of 
the Episcopal Church read over them. 

The uproar of the day had ceased and deep silence 
rested on the two squadrons, riding quietly at anchor, 
broken only by the stifled groans of the wounded, 
that were echoed from ship to ship. As Perry sat 
that night on the quarter-deck of the Lawrence, con- 
versing with his few remaining officers, w^hile ever 
and anon the moans of his brave comrades below 
were borne to his ear, he was solemn and subdued. 
The exciting scene through which he had safely 
passed — the heavy load taken from his heart — the 
reflection that his own life had been spared, and the 
consciousness that his little brother was slumbering 



284 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

sweetly and uiiliurt in bis hammock beside him, 
awakened emotions of gratitude to God, and be 
gravely remarked, " I believe tbat my wife's prajers 
have saved me."* 

It bad been a proud day for bira, and as be lay 
tbat nigbt and tbougbt wbat a cbange a few bours 
had wrought in bis fortunes, feelings of exultation 
might well swell his bosom. Such unshaken compo- 
sure — such gallant bearing — stern resolution, and 
steadiness and tenacity of purpose in a young man 
of twenty-seven, in his fii'st battle, exhibit a mar- 
vellous strength of character, and one wonders more 
at him than his success. 

It was a great victory, and as the news spread, 
bonfires, illuminations, the firing of cannon and 
shouts of excited multitudes announced the joy and 
exultation of the nation. The gallant bearing of 
Perry — bis daring passage in an op>en boat through 
the enemy's fire to the Niagara — the motto on his 
flag — the manner in wbicb be carried bis vessel 
alone through, tbe enemy's line, and then closed in 
balf pistol shot — his laconic account of tbe victory 
in a letter to the Secretary of the Navy, " We have 

MET THE ENEMY AND THEY AKE OURS" fumished Cud- 

less themes for discussion and eulogy, and he sud- 
denly found himself in the front rank of heroes. 

* See Makenzie's Life of Perry. 



THE FUNERAL. 285 

The day after the battle the funeral of the officers 
of the two fleets took place. A little opening on 
the margin of the bay, a wild and solitary spot, 
was selected as the place of interment. It was a 
beautiful autumn day, not a breath of air ruffled the 
surface of the lake or moved the still forest that 
fringed that lonely clearing. The sun shone brightly 
down on the new-made graves, and not a sound 
disturbed the sabbath stillness that rested on forest 
and lake. The fallen officers, each in his apj)ropri- 
ate uniform, were laid on platforms made to receive 
them, and placed with their hands across their 
breasts, in the barges. As these were rowed gently 
away the boats fell in behind in long procession, 
and the whole swept slowly and sadly towards the 
place of burial. The flags drooped mournfully in 
the still air, the dirge to which the oars kept time 
rose and fell in solemn strains over tlie water, while 
minute guns from the various vessels blended their 
impressive harmony with the scene. The day 
before had been one of strife and carnage, but those 
who had closed in mortal liate, now mourned like a 
band of brothers for their fallen leaders, and gather- 
ing together around the place of burial, gazed a last 
farewell, and firing one volley over the nameless 
graves, turned sadly away. There, in that wild 
spot, w^th the sullen waves to sing their perpetual 
dirge, they slept the sleep of the brave. They had 



286 SECOND WAK "WITH ENGLAND. 

fonglit gallantly, and it mattered not to tliem the 
victory or defeat, for they had gone to that still land 
where human strifes are forgotten, and the clangor 
of battle never comes. 

This impressive scene occurred off the shore wliere 
the massacre of Raisin was committed, and what a, 
striking contrast does it present to the day that sue 
ceeded the victory of Proctor. By his noble and 
generous conduct Perry won the esteem and love of 
his enemies, while Proctor by his unfeeling neglect 
and barbarity received the curse of all honorable 
men. The name of one is linked to the sj)ot 
where he conquered, with blessings ; that of the 
otlier with everlasting infamy and disgrace. 

Harrison, after this victory, collected his army of 
seven thousand men, and concentrated them at Put- 
in Bay. Perry's fleet roile triumphant on the lake, 
and he offered its service to Harrison. The latter 
ordered the regiment of horse, one thousand strong, 
to proceed by land to Detroit, while the rest of the. 
arniy was embarked un board the vessels and 

Stpl. 13. .. . , * 

set sail for Maiden. Proctor commanded at 
the latter place, and hearing of Barclay's defeat 
and Harrison's advance, was seized with alarm, and 
dismantling and blowing up the fort, and setting on 
fire the navy yard, barracks and store houses, and 
taking with him all the horses and cattle, fl&d 
towards the Tliames. The Americans followed in 



FLIGHT OF PliOCTOR. 287 

swift and eager pursuit. Governor Shelby, of Ken- 
tucky, though sixty -two years of age, was there with 
his brave Kentiickians, a volunteer, shaking his 
white k")cks with tlie merriest. Perry and Cass also 
accompanied the army, sharing in the animation 
and eagerness of the men. Sending a detachment 
across the river to drive out the hostile Indians from 
Detroit, Harrison, on the 30th, saw with relief the 
mounted column of Colonel Johnson winding along 
the opposite bank, announcing its approach with the 
stirring notes of the bugle. Resting one day to 
complete his preparations, he, on the 2d of October, 
resumed the pursuit, and soon, abandoned guns and 
shells, destroyed bridges, and houses and vessels on 
tire, revealed the haste and rage of the enemy. 
Proctor, after reaching the Thames, kept up the 
river, with the intention of striking the British posts 
near the head of Lake Ontario. But Harrison press- 
ed him so closely,.it soon became evident that a 
battle could not be avoided. On the oth. Colonel 
Johnson, with his mounted Kentuckians, marching 
two or three miles in advance, came upon the 
retreating army drawn up in or-ier of battle, on the 
bank of the Thames near the Moravian settlement. 
Proctor had taken an admirable position upon a dry 
strip' of land, flanked by the river on the left and a 
swamp on the right. Here he placed his regulars, 
eight hundred strong, while Tecumseh with his two 



288 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

thousand Indian allies occupied the eastern margin 
of the swamp. Plarrison, with his troops jaded out, 

encamped that night in front of the enemy. 

After dark Proctor and Tecumseh reconnoitred 
together the American camp, when the latter ad- 
vised a night attack. This, Proctor objected to, and 
strongly urged a retreat. The haughty savage 
spurned the proposition, and in the morning the 
British general finding lie could not escape an 
engagement, resolved to give battle where he was. 
Thinking only of retreat he had neglected to erect a 
breast-work or cut a ditch in front of his position, 
which would have effectually prevented a cavalry 
attack. To ensure the complete success of this 
blunder^ he formed his troops in open order, thus 
provoking a charge of horse. Colonel Johnson, at 

his earnest request, was allowed to open the 

battle with his thousand mounted riflemen. 
But just as he was about to or4er the charge, he 
discovered that the ground was too cramped to 
admit of a rapid and orderly movement of the 
entire force, and he therefore divided it into two 
columns, and putting his brother, Lieutenant Colonel 
James Johnson, at the head of the one that was to 
advance on the British, he led the other against the 
Indians. These two battalions moved slowly for- 
ward for a short time parallel to each other, the 
infantry following. The column advancing on the 



289 

British was checked at the first fire^tlie horses at 
the head of it recoiling. Their riders, however, 
quickly recovered them, and sending the rowels 
home, plunged with a yell of frenzy full on the 
British line. A few saddles Vv^ere emptied, but 
nothing could stop that astonishing charge. Tliose 
fiery horsemen swept like a whirlwind through ['\q 
panic-stricken ranks, and then wheeling, delivered 
their fire. Nearly five hundred rifles cracked at 
once, strewing the ground with men. It was a 
single blow, and the battle was over in that part of 
the field. Scarcely a minute had elapsed, and 
almost the entire British force was begging for 
quarter. A charge of cavalry with rifles only, was 
probably a new thing to those soldiers. Proctor, 
with forty men and some mounted Indians, fled at 
the first onset. His carriage, private papers, even 
his sword, were left behind, and goaded by terror he 
was soon lost in the distance. He remembered the 
massacre at Raisin, and knew if those enraged Ken- 
tuckians, whose brothers, fathers and sons he had 
given up to the savage, once laid hands on him they 
would grant him short shrift. Cruelty and cowardice 
are often joined together. 

The other battalion not finding firm footing for 

the horses could not charge, and Johnson seeing 

that his men were being rapidly picked ofl^, ordered 

them to dismount and take to the cover. Tecumseh 

13 



290 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

led his nien gallantly forward, and for a few 
minutes the conflict was sharp and bloody. Johnson 
Y/as wounded in three places, yet stubbornly main- 
tained his ground. At length Tecumseh fell, when 
the savages with a loud whoop, the " death halloo" 
of their leader, turned and fled. The death of this 
remarkable chieftain was worth more than a whole 
hostile tribe destroyed, and broke up forever the 
grand alliance of the Indians with the British. 
Not more than twenty-five hundred American troops 
mingled in the battle at all ; of these but fifty were 
killed and wounded. Among the latter was Colonel 
Johnson, who was borne from the field in a blanket, 
with the blood runninoj out at either end. Six hun- 
dred prisoners were taken, a large quantity of stores, 
ammunition, etc., and six pieces of artillery, among 
which were three captured from the British during 
the Revolution, and surrendered by General Hull at 
Detroit. The news of this important victory coming 
so quick on that of Perry's, filled the nation with 
increased confidence, and placed a cheerful counte- 
nance once more on the war party. The cloud that 
had hung so darkly over the land seemed lifting, 
and if Chauncey on Lake Ontario, and Wilkinson 
on the St. Lawrence, would give equally good 
accounts of themselves, the season would close with 
Canada within our grasp. 



CHAPTEE XIII. 

Wilkinson takes command of the northern army — Plan of the campaign — Hamp- 
ton entrusted with the 5th military district and takes position at Plattsburg— 
Quairel between the two Generals— Hampton advances, ngainst orders, into Can- 
ada; is defeated— Concentration of Wilkinson's army— Moves down the St. Law- 
rence — Its picturesque aspect— Harassed by the enemy— Baltic of i hrystlers 
field — Hampton refuses to join him — The expedition abandoned and the armies 
retire to winter quarters— Disappointment and indignation of the war party, and 
gratification of the Federalists— Abandonment of Fort George and burning of 
Newark — Loss of Fort Niagara and burning of Buffalo and the settlements along 
the river— Eetaliation— Gloomy close of the campaign. 

While Perrj and Harrison were thus reclaiming 
our lost ground on Lake Erie and in the north- 

1813. . 

west, Armstrong was preparing to cany out 
Lis favorite plan of a descent on Kingston and Mon- 
treal. "When lie accepted the j)ost of Secretary of 
War, he transferred his department from Washing- 
ton to Sackett's Harbor, so that he might superin- 
tend in person the progress of the campaign. In 
April previous, the United States had been divided 
into nine military districts, that portion of ~New York 
State north of the Highlands and Yermont, consti- 
tuting the ninth. "^ Although Wilkinson had super- 

* Massachusetts and New Hampshire constituted the first ; Khode 



292 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

seded Dearborn, as commander-in-cliief of this dis- 
trict in July, lie did not issue his iirst orders to the 
army till the 23d of August. Three davs after a 
council of war %as held at Sackett's Harbor, in 
which it was estimated that by the 20th of Septem- 
ber the army would consist of nine thousand men, 
exclusive of militia. The garrisons at Forts George, 
Niagara, Oswego and Burlington, were therefore 
ordered to rendezvous at Grenadier Island, hear 
Sackett's Harbor. General Wade Hampton, who 
had been recalled from the fifth military district to 
the northern frontier, encamped with his army, four 
thousand strong, at Plattsburg, on Lake Champlain. 
The plan finally adopted by the Secretary was, to have 
"Wilkinson drop down the St. Lawrence, and without 
stopping to attack the English posts on the river, form 
a junction with General Hampton, when the two 
armies should march at once on Montreal. These two 
Generals were both Revolutionary ofiicers, and con- 
sequently too advanced in years to carry such an 

Island and Connecticut tHe second ; New Tork, south of the 
Highlands, and a part of New Jersey, the third ; the remaining 
section of New Jersey, with Pennsylvania and Delaware, the 
fourth ; Virginia, south of the Kappahanuock, the fifth ; Georgia 
and the two Carolinas, the sixth ; Louisiana, INIississippi and Ten- 
nessee, the seventh ; Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illi- 
nois and Missouri, the eighth. A tenth was erected during the 
summer, including Maryland, the District of Columbia, and that 
portion of Virginia lying between the Potomac and Rappahan- 
nock rivers. 



WILKINSON AND HAMPTON. 293 

expedition tlirongli with vigor and activity. Be- 
sides, a hostile feeling separated them, rendering 
each jealous of the other's command, which threat- 
ened to work the most serious mischief. Armstrong, 
however, being the friend of both, thought by act- 
ing himself as commander-in-chief, he could recon- 
cile their differences, sufficiently to insure harmony 
of action. Chauncey, in the mean time, after an ac- 
tion with Yeo, in which both parties claimed the 
victor}^, forced his adversary to take refuge 

Sept. 38. 

in Burlington Bay. He then wrote to Wil- 
kinson that the lake v/as clear of the enemy, and 
reported himself ready to transport the troops down 
the St. Lawrence. 

The greatest expectations were formed of this ex- 
pedition. The people knew nothing of the quarrel 
between Wilkinson and Hampton, and thought only 
of the strength of their united force. The victories 
of Perry and Harrison had restored confidence — the 
tide of misfortune had turned, and when the junction 
of the two armies should take place, making in all 
nearly twelve thousand men, the fate of Canada, they 
fondly believed, would be sealed. 'No large British 
force-was concentrated on the frontier, while a garri- 
son of but six hundred held Montreal. The j)ress, 
deeming Canada already won, had begun to defend 
its conquest. The question was no longer, how to 
take it, but to reconcile the nation to its possession. 



294 SECOND WAR WTTH ENGT.AXD. 

While Wilkinson was preparing to fulfill liis part of 

tlie campaign, Hampton made a bold piisli into Canada 

on his own responsibility. Advancing from. 

Sept. 19. 

Plattsburg, he marched directly for St. John, 
but finding water scarce for his draft cattle, owing 
to a severe drought, he moved to the left, and next 
day arrived at Chateaugay Four Corners, a few miles 
from the Canada lin^. Here he was overtaken by 
an order from Armstrong, commanding him to 
remain w^here was, until the arrival of Wilkinson. 
But jealous of his rival, and wishing to achieve a 
victory in which the honor would not be divided, he 
resolved to take upon himself the responsibility of 
advancing alone. Several detachments of militia 
had augmented his force of four thousand, and he 
deemed himself sufficiently strong to attack Prevost, 
w^ho he was told had only about two thousand ill 

assorted troops under him. He therefore o:ave 
oct.ai. ^ \ . . -. . 

orders to march, and cutting a road for twenty- 
four miles through the wilderness, after five days 
great toil, reached the British position. Ignorant 
of its weakness, he dispatched Colonel Purdy at 
night by a circuitous route to gain the enemy's fiank 
and rear and assail his works, while he attacked them 
in front. Bewildered by the darkness, and led astray 
by his guide. Colonel Purdy wandered through the 
forest, entirely ignorant of the whereabouts of the 
enemy or of his own. General Hampton, however, 



295 

supposing that lie had succeeded in his attempt, 
ordered General Izard to advance with the main 
body of the army, and as soon as firing was heard in 
the rear to commence the attack in front. Izard 
marched up his men and a skirmish ensued, when 
Colonel De Salaberry, the British commander, who 
had but a handful of regulars under him, ordered 
the bugles, which had been placed at some distance 
apart on purpose to represent a large force, to sound 
the charge. The ruse succeeded admirably, and a 
halt was ordered. The bugles brought up the lost 
detachment of Purdy, but suddenly assailed by a 
concealed body of militia, his command was thrown 
into disorder and broke and fled. Disconcerted by 
the defeat of Purdy, Hampton ordered a retreat, 
without making any attempt to carry the British 
intrenchments. A few hundred Canadian militia, 
with a handful of regulars, stopped this army of 
more than four thousand men with ten pieces of 
artillery, so that it was forced, with a loss of but 
thirty men killed, wounded and missing, to retreat 
twenty-four miles along the road it had cut with so 
much labor through the forest. Hampton, defeated 
by the blasts of a few bugles, took up his position 
again at the Four Corners, to wait further news from 
"Wilkinson's division. 

The latter having concentrated his troops at Grena- 
dier Island, embarked them again the same day that 



296 SECOND WAR V/ITH ENGLAND. 

Hampton advanced, against orders, towards Mon- 
treal-. Three hundred boats covering the river for 
miles, carried the infantry and artillery, while the 
cavalry, five hundred strong, marched along the 
bank. Beaten about by ^storms, drenched with rain, 
stranded on deceitful shoals, this grand fleet ' of 
batteaux crept so slowly towards the entrance of the 
St. Lawrence, that the army, dispirited and disgusted, 
railed on its commander and the government alike. 
They were two weeks in reaching the river. Wilkin- 
son, who had been recalled from New Orleans, to 
take charge of this expedition, was prostrated by the 
lake fever, which, added to the infiry:iities of age, 
rendered him wholly unfit for the position he oc- 
cupied. General Lewis, his second in command, was 
also sick. The season was already far advanced — • 
the autumnal storms had set in earlier than usual— 
everything conspired to ensure defeat ; and around 
this wreck of a commander, tossed an army, dis- 
pirited, disgusted, and doomed to disgrace. General 
Brown led the advance of this army of invasion, as 
it started for Montreal, a hundred and eighty miles 
distant. Approaching French Creek, eighteen miles 
below Grenadier Island, it was attacked by a fleet of 
boats from Kingston, but repulsed them with little 
loss. The news of the invasion, however, spreading, 
the British detachment at Kingston, reinforced by 
the militia, followed the descending flotilla, harass- 



Wilkinson's flotilla, 297 

ing it whenever iiii opportunity occurred. To a be- 
holder the force seemed adequate to secure the object 
contemplated, for the spectacle it presented was 
grand and imposing. As the head of that vast fleet 
came winding around the bend of the stream and 
swept out 'of view below, the long procession of boats 
that streamed after seemed to be endless. Scattered 
in picturesque groups amid the Thousand Isles, 
or assailed with artillery from British forts — now 
swallowed up in the silent forest that clothed the 
banks, and again slowly drifting past the scattered 
settlements, or shooting the long and dangerous 
rapids, it presented a strange and picturesque ap- 
pearance. When it reached the head of the long 
rapids at Hamilton, twenty miles below Ogdens- 
burg, Wilkinson ordered General Brown to advance 
by land and cover the passage of the boats through 
the narrow defiles, where the enemy had estab- 
lished block houses. In the mean time the cav- 
alry had crossed over to the Canadian side and with 
fifteen hundred men under General Boyd, been de- 
patched against the enemy, which was constantly 
harassing his rear. 

General Boyd, accompanied by Generals 

Swartvvout and Covington as volunteers, moved 

forward in three colunms. Colonel Eipley advancing 

with the 21st Regiment, drove the enemy's sharp 

shooters from the woods, and emerged on an open 

13* 



298 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

space, called Clirystler's Field, and directly in front 
of two Encrlish reo^iments. I^N^otwithstandin^; the dis- 
parity of numbers this gallant officer ordered a 
charge, which was executed with such firmness that 
the two regiments retired. Rallying and making a 
stand, they were again charged and driven hack. 
General Cov^ington falling fiercely on the left flank, 
where the artillerj^ was posted, forced it to recoil. But 
at this critical moment, while bravely leading on his 
men, he was shot through the body. His fall dis- 
concerted the brigade, and a shower of grape shot at 
the same moment scourging it severely, it retired in con- 
fusion. This restored the combat, and for more than 
two hours that open field was the scene of successive 
and most gallant charges. The front of battle 
wavered to and fro, and deeds of personal courage 
and daring were done that showed that the troops 
and younger officers only needed a proper com- 
mander, and they would soon give a report of them- 
selves which would change the aspect of affiiirs. 
At length the British retired to their camp and the 
, Americans maintained their position on the shore, 
so that the flotilla passed the Saut in safety. This 
action has never received the praise it deserves — the 
disgraceful failure of the campaign having cast a 
shadow upon it. The British, though inferior in 
numbers, had greatly the advantage in having pos- 
session of a stone house in the midst of the field, 



299 

from which, as from a citadel, they could keep up a 
constant fire, without being injured in return. The 
conflict was close and murderous, and the American 
troops gave there a foretaste of Chippew^a and 
Lundj's Lane. Nearly one-fifth of the entire force 
engaged were killed or wounded ; a mortality never 
exhibited in a drawn battle without most desperate 
fighting. 

General Wilkinson, who lay sick in his boat, knew 
nothing of what was transpiring, except by report. 
Brown's cannon thundering amid the rapids below — 
the dropping fire in the rear of his flotilla, and the 
incessant crash of artillery and rattle of musketry in 
the forest, blended their echoes around him, augment- 
ing the power of disease, and increasing that nervous 
anxiety, which made him long to be away from such 
turbulent scenes, amid occupations more befitting his 
age and infirmities. 

The army, however, still held its course for Mon- 
treal. Young Scott, who had joined the expedition 
at Ogdensburgh, was fifteen miles a head, clearing, 
with a detachment of less than eight hundred men, 
the river banks as he went. Montreal was known to 
be feebly garrisoned, and Wilkinson had no doubt it 
would fall an easy conquest. He therefore sent for- 
ward to Hampton to join him at St. Eegis, with 
provisions. Hampton, in reply, said, that his men 
could bring no more provisions than they wanted for 



300 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND, 

their own use, and informed him, in short, that he 
should not co-operate with liim at all, but make the 
best of his waj back to Lake Champlain. 

On receiving this astounding news, Wilkinson 
called a council of war, whicli reprobated in strong 
terms the conduct of Hampton, and decided that in 
consideration of his failure, and the lateness of the 
season, the march should be suspended, and the 
army retire to winter quarters. This w^as carried 
into effect, and Wilkinson repaired to French Mills, 
on Salmon river, for the winter, and Hampton to 
Plattsburgh. Thus, for months, an army of twelve 
thousand men had marched and maneuvred on the 
Canadian frontier without striking a single blow. 
Confidence in the success of this campaign had been 
60 great, that its disgraceful issue fell like a sudden 
paralysis on the war party, and on the nation gene- 
rally. Like Hull's defeat, it was unredeemed by a 
single glimmer of light. The mind had nothing to 
rest upon for momentary relief. The failure was so 
complete and total, that the advocates of the war 
were struck dumb, and Washington was wrapped in 
gloom. The Federalists, on the contrary, were 
strengthened. Their prognostications had proved 
true. The nation had concentrated its strength on 
Canada for two years, and yet been unable to make 
the least impression. A Boston paper that from the 
first had denounced the war, said, " Democracy has 



JOY OF THE FEDERALISTS. 301 

rolled herself up in weeds, and laid down for its last 

w^allowing in the slough of disgrace." 

Now lift ye saints your heads on high, 
And shout, for your redemption 's nigh.* 

The Federalists knew their advantage and pre- 
pared to use it, for this was not a lost battle that 
might in a few - days be retrieved ; it was a lost 
campaign, and a whole winter must intervene before 
an opportunity to redeem it could occur. In that 
time they hoped to make the administration a hissing 
and a bye-word in the land. The war party looked 
glum and sullen in view of the long and merciless 
scourging which awaited it. Armstrong was loudly 
censured, while on Wilkinson and Hampton it poured 
the whole vials of its wrath. Armstrong was doubt- 
less too much of a martinet, and could carry through 
a campaign on paper much better than practically ; 
still, the one he had proposed was feasible, and 
ought to have succeeded. He could nut be held 
responsible for the insubordination of officers. He 
however committed one great error. Aware of the 
hostile feeling that existed between Wilkinson and 
Hampton, he should have remained on the spot and 
acted as commander-in-chief, or else if his duties 
rendered his absence imperative, accepted the resig- 
nation of Wilkinson. Old and sick as the latter was, 
no commander could have been more inefficient than 
* Vide Ingersoll. 



302 SE(X)ND WAR wrrn England, 

he, while the enmity between him and Hampton was 
certain to end in mischief. The junction of the two 
armies woukl not have prevented, but on the contrary 
increased it. He knew, or ought to have known, 
they would not act harmoniously together, and it 
required no prophet's vision to foretell the fate of a 
divided army acting on the enemy's territory. If he 
had remained to urge forward the expedition, and 
sent home Hampton for disobeying his orders, and 
compelled the arjny to form a junction with that of 
Wilkinson, no doubt Montreal would have fallen. 
But knowing, as he did from the outset, that 
Hampton would never harmonize with his enem}' — to 
allow the success of the campaign to depend on their 
concerted action, was committing a blunder for 
which no apology can be made. 

Wilkinson came in for more than his share of public 
abuse. Sickness must alvvays cover a multitude of 
sins. There are very few men whose will is stronger 
than disease. The firmest are unstrung by it. Even 
Cesar, when prostrated by fever, could say : 

" Give me some drink, Titinius, 
As a sick girl.'' 

This is especially true of men advanced in years. 
Age tells heavily enough on both physical and 
mental powers in an arduous campaign, without the 
additional aid of fever. Wilkinson was perfectly 



REVIEW OF THE CAMPAIGN. 303 

aware of this, and requested twice to be released 
from the command. Forced to retain a position he 
felt unequal to, his conduct was necessarily char- 
acterized by no vigor ; and insubordination, dis- 
graceful quarrels, and duels, combined to make a 
sorry chapter in the history of the expedition. It 
must be confessed, however, that for some of his 
conduct, age and disease are but sorry excuses, and 
it is pretty apparent he was in character wholly unfit 
for the enterprise he had undertaken. For Hampton 
there is no apology. His disobedience of orders in 
the first place should have been followed by his 
immediate withdrawal from the army, while his 
refusal to do the very thing he had been sent north 
to perform, was a crime next to treason. All the 
forts we occupied on the frontier had been emptied 
of their garrisons, and great expense incurred by the 
government to carry forward an expedition, the chief 
feature in which was the junction and united 
advance of the two armies. His resignation saved 
him from public disgrace. The withdrawal of our 
troops from Lake Ontario and j^iagara, together 
with the suspension of hostilities on the St. Lawrence, 
was followed by the capture of all the posts we had 
been two years in taking. 

When Scott obtained permission to join Wilkin- 
son's army, he left Fort George in the command of 
General McClure of the New York militia. The 



304 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

fort had been put In a complete state of defence bj 
Scott, and was supposed able to repel any force that 
would be brought against it-. Vincent, who had 
abandoned its investment after Proctor's overthrow, 
returned when he heard of Wilkinson's retreat. 
McClure, under the plea that his militia had left 
him, and that those volunteers promised could not be 
obtained, resolved to abandon the fort without risking 
a battle. 

He therefore dismantled it, and then in order to 
deprive the enemy of shelter, set fire to the 

Dec. 10. 

neighboring village of Newark and drove 
four hundred women and children forth to the fierce 
blasts of a northern winter. The English, who 
during this war rarely waited for an excuse to resort 
to the barbarities of savage warfare, of course 
retaliated with tenfold violence. 

Nine days after. Fort Niagara w^as surprised 

Dec. 19; 

by a party of British and Indians, under the 
command of Colonel Murray, and sixty of the garri- 
son murdered in cold blood. The manner in which 
it was taken created a strong suspicion of treachery 
somewhere. The British made no secret of the 
premeditated attack, and the day before, General 
McClure issued a proclamation to the inhabitants of 
Niagara, Genesee and Chatauque counties, calling on 
them to rally to the defence of their homes 
and country. To this was appended a postscript, 



FALL OF NIAGARA. 305 

stating, " since the above was prepared, I have re- 
ceived intelligeace from a credible inhabitant from 
Canada (who has just escaped from thence) that tho 
enemy are concentrating all ttieir forces and boats at 
Fort George, and have (ixed ujyon to-morrow night 
for attaching Fort Niagara — and should they suc- 
ceed they will lay waste our wliole frontier." On 
that very " morrow night " the attack did take place, 
and yet the Commandant, Captain Leonard, was 
absent, having left during the evening, without en- 
trusting the command of the post to another. The 
picquets were taken by surprise, and the enemy 
entered by the main gate, which, it is said, was 
found open. 

It seemed at this time as if the government had 
carefully selected the most inefficient men in the 
nation to command on our frontier, in order to show 
what a large stock v/e had on hand, before those 
more capable and deserving could be given a place. 
General McClure not only fixed the time of the 
attack, but declared that the fall of the fort would 
be followed by the desolation of the whole frontier, 
(in both of which prognostications he proved an ad- 
mirable prophet,) yet not a man was sent to rein- 
force it, no orders were issued to its commander, 
and no precautions taken. Had Scott been in his 
place, fort jSI'iagara would have enclosed him that 
night — every door would have been lolted and 



306 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLA^^). 

barred, and the 27 guns it contained rained death 
on the assailants as they approached. McClure was 
right, the enemy did '' lay waste the frontier." 
Marching on Lewistown, they burned it to the ground. 
Setting fire to every farm-house as they advanced, 
massacring many of the inhabitants, and mutilating 
the corpses, they burned Youngstown, the Tuscarora 
Indian village, and Manchester, kindling the whole 
frontier into a glow from the liglit of blazing dwell- 
ings. Eleven days after another party crossed at 
Grand Island, and burned Black Kock and Buffalo, 
leaving scarcely a house standins; in the lat- 

Dec.30. to J to 

ter place. At Black Kock they burned 
three of the schooners belonging to Perry's gallant 
fleet. Cruel and merciless as was this raid, it had a 
justification, at least in the burning of houses, on 
the principles of war. The destruction of Newark 
w^as a barbarous act, and in no way borne out by 
the orders of government, w^hich authorized it only 
on the ground that the defence of the fort rendered 
it necessary. To fire a town, turning forth houseless 
and homeless women and children, because an attack- 
ing enemy might employ it as a shelter from wl«ch 
to make their approaches : and destroy it on the plea 
that it affords merely the shelter of a bivouack, 
after the position is abandoned, are totally different 
acts, nor can they be made similar by any sophistry. 
These outrages inflamed the passions of the inhabi- 



RETALIATION. 307 

tants occupying the frontier to the highest degree. 
JS'o epithets were too harsh when speaking of each 
other, and no retaliation seemed too severe. This 
feeling of hostility was still farther exasperated by 
the treatment of prisoners of war. The imprison- 
ing of twenty Irishmen, taken at Queenstown the 
year before, to be tried as traitors, was no doubt a 
stroke of policy on the part of England, and design- 
ed to deter adopted citizens from enlisting in the 
army. It was announcing beforehand, that all 
English, Scotch and Irish taken in battle would not 
be regarded as ordinary prisoners of war, but as 
her own subjects caught in the act of revolt. Our 
government could not in any way recognize this 
arrogant claim, and twenty-three English prisoners 
were placed in close confinement, with the distinct 
pledge of the government that they should meet the 
fate pronounced on the Irishmen. Prevost, acting 
under orders, immediately shut up twice the number 
of American officers. Madison retorted by impris- 
oning an equal number of English officers. Prevost 
then placed in confinement all the prisoners of war ; 
Madison did the same. The treatment of these 
prisoners was alike only in form, for while we showed 
all the leniency consistent with obedience to. orders, 
the English, for the most part, were haughty, con- 
temptuous, and insulting. 



808 SECOND WAK WITH ENGLAND. 

The Creek war commenced tliis year, and tliough 
the Indians were not snhdiied, no defeat had sullied 
the American arms. This, together with the capture 
of Detroit, summed up the amount of our successes 
on land for the year. York and Fort George were lost 
to us, while Fort E'iagara, standing on our soil, was 
in the hands of the enemy. Such, the administra- 
tion was compelled to exhibit as the results accom- 
plished by a regular army of thirty-four thousand 
men, six thousand volunteers^ and the occasional em- 
ployment of thirty thousand militia. This report 
following on the heels of the disasters of the previ- 
ous year, would have completely broken down the 
government but for the exasperated state of the 
nation, produced by the cruelties and atrocities of 
the English. Tenacity of purpose has ever been 
characteristic of the nation, and ever will be ; dis- 
asters make us sullen and gloomy, but never incline 
us to submission. Armies may be beaten, but the 
nation, never, is a sentiment so grounded and fixed 
in the national heart that to question its truth excites 
only amazement. To deepen still more the shadows 
that had closed upon us, Bonaparte, at this time, 
was evidently in his last struggle. Although bat- 
tling bravely for his throne, and exhibiting in more 
brilliant light than ever the splendor of his marvel- 
lous genius, yet the " star" that had led him on was 
already touching the horizon ; and soon as his vast 



PROSPECTS. 



309 



power should yield and fall, England would give lis 
her undivided attention, and then our little navy, 
our pride and solace, would be swept from the 
seas. 



CHAPTEE XIY. 

1813—1814. 

"Winter operations — Decatur challenges Commodore Hardy to meet the United 
States and Macedonian with two of his frigates— Wilkinson's second invasion ot 
Canada — Battle of la Cole Mill — Holmes' expedition into Canada — Romantic 
character of our border warfare — Inroad of the British marines to Saybrook and 
Brockaway's Ferry. 

During tlie autumn and winter of tliis year, while 
Congress was shaken with conflicting parties, and 
deeper gloom and embarrassments Avere gathering 
round the administration, reports of conflicts ever 
and anon came from the bosom of our northern and 
southern wildernesses. Wilkinson was endeavoring 
to redeem his failures along the St. Lawrence, and 
Jackson was leading his gallant little band into the 
fastnesses of the Creek nation. Most of the nation- 
al vessels were blockaded in our harbors and rivers, 
but still our bold little privateers were scouring the 
ocean in every direction. At this time, too, a 
single war vessel might be seen struggling in tem- 
pestuous seas off the stormy caj^e, on her w^ay to the 
Pacific ocean to finish in disaster the most remarkable 
cruise found in our naval annals. Decatur, with his 



Decatur's challenge. 311 

squadron, lay blockaded at New London, and it was 
said that every attempt to get to sea was thwarted 
by some disaiiected persons, who burned blue lights 
at the mouth of the river to "'ive information of his 
movements to the enemy. He wrote a letter to Mr. 
Jones, the Secretary of the Navy, on the subject, 
and a proposition was made in Congress to have it 
investigated, but it was dismissed as of trivial im- 
portance. Irritated at his inactivity, he challenged 
the Endymion and Statira to meet the United States 
and Macedonian in single combat, offerijng to reduce 
his force till they said it equalled their own. To 
this Commodore Hardy at first gave his consent, but 
afterwards withdrew it. If the challenge had been 
accepted, there is little doubt but that the Chesa- 
peake would have been signally avenged. At one 
time Decatur was so confident of a fight, that he 
addressed his crew on the subject. 

Wilkinson soon after his retirement to winter 
quarters at French Mills, on Salmon river, resigned 
his command to Gen feral Izard, and proceeded to 
Washington to recruit his health. He here planned 
a winter campaign which for hardihood and boldness 
exceeded all his previous demonstrations. He pro- 
posed to pierce by different routes with two columns, 
each two thousand strong, to the St. Pierre, and 
sweeping the defenceless cantonments as he advanced, 
stop and occupy them or turn with sudden and re- 



312 SECOND WAK WITH ENGLAND. 

sistless energy against the Isle Aux ^N'oix, or go quiet- 
ly back to his winter quarters again. At the same 
time, four thousand men were to cross the St. Law- 
rence, take Cornwall, fortify and hold it so as to 
destroy the communication between the two provin- 
ces. IS"ay, he proposed at one time to barrack in 
Ejngston. The secretary, however, distrusting the 
feasibility of these plans, ordered him to fall back 
to Plattsburgh with his troops. Brown, in the mean 
time, was directed to take two thousand men and 
proceed to Sackett's Harbor, for the defence of our 
flotilla there, while young Scott was stationed at 
Buffalo. 

Matters remained in this state till March, 

1813. 

when "Wilkinson resolved to erect a battery at 
Eouse's Point, ^nd thus keep the enemy from Lake 
Champlain. The latter, penetrating the design, con- 
centrated a force two thousand strong at La Cole Mill, 
three miles below the point. The early breaking up 
of the ice, however, had rendered the project imprac- 
ticable. Still, Wilkinson resolved to attack La Cole 
Mill, though it does not appear what use he designed to 
make of the victory when gained. With four thousand 
men, and artillery sufficiently lieav}^, it was supposed, 
to demolish the walls of the mill, he set forth. 
The main road was blockaded for miles with trees 
that had been felled across it. He therefore, after 
arriving at Odletown, was compelled to take a nar- 



BATTLE OF LA C50LE MILL. 313 

row winding path only wide enough for a single 
sleigh, and which for three miles crept through a 
dense wood. With a guide who had been forced 
into the service to show the way, and who marched 
on foot between two dragoons, the advance, led by 
Major Forsyth and Colonel Clarke, slowly entered 
the wintry forest. An eighteen pounder broke 
down before it reached the woods, a twelve pounder 
lagged on the way, so as to be useless. A twelve 
pounder and a howitzer were got forward with great 
labor, for the wheels sunk into the yielding snow 
and mud, and thumped at almost every revolution 
against the trees that hemmed in the narrow path. 
The column was necessarily closely packed, and 
as it waded through the snow the fire of the con- 
cealed enemy soon opened upon it. But the two guns, 
what with lifting and pushing, lumbered slowly for- 
ward, and at length were placed in a position in a 
clearing in sight of the mill, which proved to be 
garrisoned by only two hundred men. The snow 
was a foot deep, and the panting troops, though full 
of courage and confidence, were brought with diffi- 
culty forward. Tlie woods were so thick that the 
mill was hidden till directly upon it, and the only 
open space where the cannon could play unobstructed 
on the walls was so near, that the sharp shooters 
within the building could pick off .the gunners with 
fatal rapidity. The first shots told heavily on the 
U 



314: SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

building, but in a short time, of tlie three officers 
who commanded the guns, two were severely 
wounded, and of the twenty men who served them, 
fourteen were dead or disabled. The trooj)s as they 
came up were posted so as to prevent the escape of 
the garrison. Sortie after sortie was made to take 
the guns, but always repulsed by the American 
troops, who fought gallantly under their intrepid 
leaders. Larribee who commanded the howitzer was 
shot through the heart, and Macpherson who had 
charge of the twelve pounder, though cut by a bul- 
let under the chin, maintained his ground till pros- 
trated by a frightful wound in the hip. The infantry 
was of no avail, except to repel sorties, and stood 
grouped in the forest waiting till the enemy, forced 
by the cannonade to retreat, should uncover them- 
selves. But it was impossible to serve the guns un- 
der the concentrated fire of two hundred muskets 
and rifles in such close range. Men dropped in the 
act of loading; in one case, after the piece was 
charged, but a single man remained to fire it. A por- 
tion of the garrison seeing it so unprotected, rushed 
forth to seize it. The single man, however, stood his 
ground, and as the enemy came, fired his piece. At 
the same time the troops in the wood poured in a 
volley. When the smoke cleared away but a single 
man was left standing. The whole column had been 
shot down. At length a hundred and forty or fifty 



DEFEAT OF THE AMERICANS. 315 

having fallen and night coming on the troops were 
withdrj wn. It was resolved to renew the attack next 
morning, but a rain storm set in during the night, 
turning the snow into a half fluid mass, and render- 
ing a second approach impracticable. The chilled 
and tired army was therefore withdrawn, and Wil- 
kinson ended at once his invasion of Canada and 
his military career. He retired from the army, and 
younger and more energetic men were appointed 
over it, who should lead it to victory. On the 24:th of 
January, Brigadier-Generals Brown and Izard 

1814:. 

were promoted to the rank of Major-Generals, 
and later in the spring took command on our north- 
ern frontier. 

While these unsuccessful plans were maturing on 
the St. Lawrence, Colonel Butler, commanding at 
Detroit, dis]3atched Captain Holmes with a small 
detachment into Canada to destroy Fort Talbot, a 
hundred miles inland, and what ever other " military 
establishments mio^ht fall in his way." He 

Feb. a*. 

had less than two hundred men and but two 
cannon. Pushing his w^ay through the forests he 
found the road when he reached Point Au Plat, so 
filled with fallen trees and brushwood that his guns 
could not be carried forward. Leaving them there- 
fore behind, he kept on until he ascertained that his 
approach was expected. Seeing that all hopes of a 
surprise must be abandoned, he changed his course 



316 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

and marched rapidly against Fort Delaware, on the 
Thames, occupied by the British. But when he 
arrived within fifteen miles of the place he was 
informed that his attack was expected, and that am- 
ple preparations had been made to meet it. He 
immediately fell back behind Twenty Mile Creek, 
where he had scarcely taken position, before the 
rangers left to protect his rear emerged on a run 
from the woods that covered the opposite bank, 
pushed fiercely by the head of the enemy's column. 
Tie immediately strengthened his position by every 
means in his power, and on the following morning 
was ready for an attack. Only a small body of the 
enemy, however, appeared at day break, and soon 
after retreated. Holmes at first suspected this to be 
a ruse to draw him from his position, but ascertain- 
ing from a reconnaissance that not more than sixty 
or seventy men composed the force, he started in 
pursuit. His first conjecture, however, proved true, 
for after marching a few miles he came upon his ad- 
versary, well posted, and expecting him. His great 
anxiety was now to get back to his position, and at 
the same time practice the very deception which had 
beguiled him from it. He succeeded admirably, and 
the British imagining his retreat to be a hasty and 
disorderly flight pressed after, and on coming to the 
creek resolved at once to attack him. Crossing the 
stream they ascended the opposite bank boldly, and 



31T 

without opposition, till within twenty yards of the 
top, when they were met by such a sudden and de" 
structive volley that they broke and fled. Hiding 
behind trees they then kept up a harmless fire till 
night, when under cover of darkness they effected 
their retreat with the loss of nearly a hundred men, or 
one-third of their force, while some half dozen killed 
and wounded covered the loss of the Americans. 
This half partisan, half regular warfare, in the midst 
of our vast forests, combined much of the pictur- 
esque and marvellous. There was not the pomp of 
vast armies, nor the splendor of a great battle, but 
courage, skill and endurance were required, sufficient 
to make able commanders and veteran soldiers. The 
long and tedious march of a hundred miles through 
the snow-filled forest — the solitary block-house with 
its small garrison, situated in a lonely clearing, 
around which the leafless trees creaked and groaned 
in the northern blasts — the bivouack fire gleaming 
red through the driving storm — the paths of wild 
beasts crossing the wilderness in every direction, 
their cries of hunger mingling with the muffled 
sound of half frozen torrents — the war-cry of the 
savage and the crack of his rifle at still midnight, 
waking up the chilled sleepers to battle and to 
death — the sudden onset and the bloody hand-to-hand 
fight, made up the experience and history of our 
border warfare. Far away from the haunts of civil- 



318 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

ization, men struggled for the control of an imaginary 
line, and many gallant and able officers, fell inglori- 
ously by some Indian marksman. At far intervals, 
stretching from the St. Lawrence to Mackinaw, the 
faintly heard thunder of cannon amid those vast soli- 
tudes, announced that two nations were battling for 
untrodden forest tracts and undisturbed sheets of 
water. Those tracts are now covered with towns 
and cities, and those sheets of water freighted with 
commerce. Then it was announced as a great mira- 
cle of speed, that a steamboat made four miles an 
hour in passing up the Ohio — now the northern 
lakes are ploughed with steamers, going at the rate 
of eighteen or twenty miles an hour, and wraj)ped 
round with railroads, over which cars are thunder- 
ing with a velocity that annihilates distance, and 
brings into one neighborhood the remotest States. 

An unsuccessful attempt on the part of the British 
to destroy the American vessels just launched at Yer- 
gennes, and which were to compose Macdonough's 
fleet, and a bold inroad of the English marines from 
the blockading squadron off JS'ew London, in which, 
twentv American vessels were burned, the 

April 8. \ . . . T . 1 . 11. 

men pitching quoits, drinking and playing 
ball during the conflagration, till night, when they 
quietly floated down the river, constituted the other 
chief movements that terminated in the early spring. 



CHAPTER XIY. 

THIRTEENTH CONGRESS. MAY 27, 1813. 

Democratic gain in Congress— Spirit in which the two parties met— Kussian medi- 
ation offered and accepted, and commerce opened— State of the Treasury- 
Debate respecting a reporter's seat— Direct tax— Webster's resolutions— Gover- 
nor Chittenden- Strange conduct of parties in New Hampshire— The embargo — 
England proposes peace — Commissioners appointed — Army bill— Webster's 
speech upon it— Sketch of him— The loan bill— Defended by Mr. Eppes— 
Sketch of Mr. Pickering, with his speech— Sketch of John Forsyth, and his 
speech— Calhoun— Grosvenor— Bill for the support of military establishments — 
Speech of Artemus Ward — Resolutions of Otis in the Massachusetts Senate — 
Repeal of the embargo— Calhoun and Webster— Strange reversal of their positions 
Strength of our navy and army. 

Soon after the capture of York the Thirteenth 
Congress assembled. By the new apportionment 
made the year previous, a hundred and eighty-two 
members had been added to the House of Represen- 
tatives. One remarkable man, Randolph, had dis- 
appeared from the arena, having been defeated by 
Mr. Eppes, son-in-law of Jefferson. As the two great 
parties came together they surveyed each other's 
strength — prepared to close in combat with the same 
determination and hostile feeling that ha mdarked 
the proceedings of the last session of the Twelfth 



8^20 BECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

Congres8. In the accession of members the Fede- 
ralists had made important gains, chiefly from ISTew 
York, so that the House stood one hundred and 
twelve for the war and sixtv-eight against it, and the 
Senate twenty-seven to nine. In the latter, however, 
the party lines were not so strongly drawn, and on 
many questions the Democrats had much less majori- 
ties than their nominal superiority would indicate. 
Among the new members were Pickering, who had 
Bucceeded Quincey, and Cyrus King, from Massa- 
chusetts, and Daniel Webster, from ISTew Hampshire, 
Federalists. Forsyth, of Georgia, M'Lean, of Ohio, 
Taylor, of l^ew York, and Findley, of Pennsylvania, 
were Democrats. Mr. Clay was elected speaker on the 
first ballot. The President's message was short, and 
related wholly to the war. He informed Congress that 
an offer of mediation had been made by the Em- 
peror Alexander, of Russia, on the 8th of March 
previous — and accepted, and that Mr. Gallatin, Mr. 
Bayard, and Mr. Adams, had been appointed Com- 
missioners under it, to negotiate a peace with England, 
and also a treaty with Russia. He expressed the belief 
that England would accept the mediation, whether it 
resulted in any settlement of difficulties or not. 

The receipts into the Treasury during the six 
months, ending the last day of March, including 
sums received on account of Treasury notes and 
loans, amounted to $15,412,000, the expenditures to 



STATE OF THE TEEASUET. 8^1 

$15,920,000. A balance, however, was in the Trea- 
sury previously, so that there remained $1,857,000 
unexpended. Of the loan of sixteen millions, autho- 
rized in February, one million had been paid 

Feb. 18. *^ ' ^ 

in, and formed part of the receipts mentioned, 
so that the remaining $15,000,000, together with 
$5,000,000 of Treasury notes, and $9,700,000, the 
sum expected from customs, sales of public lands, 
making in all $29,000,000, constituted the provision 
for the remaining nine months of the current year. 
To avoid the necessity of loans, which were made at 
rates injurious to the government, and to give a more 
permanent basis to the revenue, additional taxes were 
recommended. 

The first act of Congress was the passage of a reso- 
lution, introduced by Clay, to refer that part of the 
messao^e which related to the barbarous manner in 
which the enemy waged war to a select committee, 
of which Mr. Macon, of Georgia, was chairman. Mr. 
Epps was made chairman of that of Ways and 
Means, and Calhoun of that on Foreign Affairs. The 
gentlemen constituting the latter were Calhoun, 
Grundy, Desha, Jackson of Yirginia, Ingersoll, Fisk 
of New York, and Webster. 

The extreme sensitiveness of the two parties, and 

the readiness with which they seized upon the most 

trifling matter as a bone of contention, were strik 

ingly exhibited in some of the earliest proceedings of 
14* 



322 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

Congress. The reporter of the Federal Republican, 
the paper which had been mobbed by the Demo- 
crats at Baltimore, and was now published in George- 
town, presented a petition, asking a place to be 
assigned him, like that of the other reporters, and 
stating that the Speaker had refused to give him one. 
The implication was, that Mr. Clay had denied him 
a place on account of his politics. Mr. Clay said 
this was not so, that the true reason was, he had 
no place to give; all of those furnished by the House 
being preoccupied. This statement, however, could 
not satisfy the members, and it was proposed to 
make an extra provision for the gentleman. Cal- 
houn was opposed to the admission of any reporters. 
Almost the entire day was occupied in discussing 
this trifling affair, when such momentous questions 
asked the attention of Congress. It even adjourned 
without coming to a decision, and not until next day 
was it disposed of, by rejecting the prayer of the 
petitioner. 

Mr. Eppes, from the Committee of Ways and 

June 14. ft- "> ^ 

Means, made a report, in which, after showing 
that the expenditures for the next year, 1814, would 
exceed the revenue by $5,600,000, twelve bills were 
offered, one for direct taxation, another establishing 
the office of Commissioner of the Kevenue, and others 
laying duties on imported salt, on licenses to retailers 
of liquors, on foreign merchandise, carriages, distil- 



323 

lers of liquors, on auction sales of foreign goods and 
vessels, on sugars refined in the United States, on 
bank notes, notes of hand and certain foreign bills of 
exchange, and on foreign tonnage. 

Mr. "Webster then rose and delivered his first 
speech in the House, introduced by four resolutions, 
the purport of which were to inquire into the time, 
manner, &c., with the attending circumstances, in 
which the document, asserted to be a repeal of the 
Berlin and Milan decrees, was communicated to this 
government. Although these resolutions had their 
origin in Federal hostility, and were designed to 
sustain the old charge against the administration, of 
being under French influence, because it was well 
aware those decrees had not been repealed when it 
declared war against England, yet Webster carefully 
avoided implying it in his speech. He felt bound to 
offer these resolutions in justice to his constituents. 
A heated discussion followed their introduction, but 
young Webster conducted himself with great pru- 
dence and caution. At home he had made inflam- 
mable speeches against the war, but after he got out 
of the atmosphere of Massachusetts, and came in. 
contact with such ardent young patriots as Clay and 
Calhoun, his sympathies, doubtless, were moved, and 
his patriotism received an impulse which went far to 
neutralize the views of Federalism, with which he 
had been inoculated. The political opponents of 



3S4 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAITD. 

that war having been successively thrown overboard 
by the nation since its termination, much effort 
seems to have been made by the friends of Webster 
to omit entirely this portion of his life, but I have no 
doubt were it truly and honorablj* written, it would 
exalt his character and enhance his fame. Coming 
from the very furnace of Federalism — educated under 
the influence of men whose opinions he had been 
taught to venerate, and who, throwing aside their 
party hate, were the wisest statesmen of the land, 
sent to Washington on purpose to represent their 
views, it seems unaccountable that he, a young 
aspirant for fame, did not at once plunge into the 
arena and win reputation by crossing swords with 
such men as Clay and Calhoun. Standing for the 
first time on the field where political fame was to 
be won, and goaded on by attacks upon principles he 
had been taught to venerate, he nevertheless carefully 
stood aloof, and shortly after retired entirely on leave 
of absence. How is this strange conduct to be ac- 
counted for in one who ever after never refused to 
close like a lion with his foes I With his powers he 
would soon have been a leader of the opposition, and 
yet this soul, full of deep thought and slumbering 
fire, looked apparently cold and indifferent on the 
F.trife that was rending the nation asunder. Did 
not this conduct grow out of a sense of duty and of 
patriotism. He could not do less, as a representa- 



DIRECT TAX. 325 

tive of Federalism, than offer resolutions of inquiry, 
and without turning traitor to his constituents, he 
could not do more for the administration. Did not 
that judgment, on whose decisions the nation after- 
wards so implicklj relied, tell him even then that 
his country was right and his teachers wrong on the 
great question of war or no war, and did not that 
grand heart, which heaved like the swelling sea 
when he spoke of the glorious Union, even then 
revolt at the disloyal attitude of N^ew England? If 
this be not true, then his conduct is wholly inexplica- 
ble and contradictory to his after life. 

Tlie first session of the Thirteenth Congress con- 
tinued till August 2d, when it adjourned to Decem- 
ber. In the mean time, a direct tax, amounting to 
$3,000,000, apportioned to the eighteen different 
states, was laid. A bounty of $25 was voted to 
privateers for every prisoner taken, and heavy pen- 
alties were placed on the use of British licenses, and 
provisions made to raise ten companies for the 
defence of the sea coast. The disasters of our north- 
ern army, during this autumn, increased the bold- 
ness of the Federalists, and a paper of Boston 
openly advocated the proposition for each state to 
take care of itself, fight its own battles, and make 
its owm terms. Governor Chittenden of Vermont, 
attempted to recall a brigade of militia, appointed 
to garrison Burlington, during Hampton's march into 



326 SECJOND WAE WITH ENGLAND. 

Canada, on the ground it had been unconstitution- 
ally ordered out. The commander and a part of the 
brigade refused, when the former was put under 
arrest. The Legislature of 'Nevi Hampshire, in 
order to get rid of the democratic judges, appointed 
by Langdon and Plumer, abolished all the courts in 
the state, and constructed an entirely new system, 
with new judges. To this high-handed measure the 
democratic judges refused to submit, and held court 
sessions as formerly, side by side with the new 
judges. In those counties where the sheriff was 
democratic, their decision was sustained by this 
functionary, confusing and confounding every thing. 
By such measures, party spirit was inflamed to the 
highest pitch, dividing friends and families and 
societies. It became a frenzy, a madness, obliterat- 
ing, in many parts of New England, all traces of 
former urbanity, j ustice, affection and courtesy. The 
appellation of Democrat and Federalist, applied to 
one or the other, converted him, in his opponent's 
eye, into a monster. The charge of highway rob- 
bery, rape or murder would not have been more 
instantaneous and direful in its effect. The Boston 
papers advocated the most monstrous doctrines, 
creating great anxiety and solicitude at Washington. 
But soon as the New England line was crossed, 
passing west and south, the feeling changed. To go 
from these fierce, debasing broils, into the harmoni- 



SECOND SESSION OF CONGEESS. 327 

Oils feeling in favor of tlie war, was like passing 
from the mad struggles of a vessel amid the break- 
ers to a qniet ship moving steadily on her way. 
The governors of the several states in their procla- 
mations and messages firmly upheld the administra- 
tion, and the legislatures pledged their support. 

In the midst of such excitements, oppressed by 

the failure of Wilkinson-s campaign, and dreading 

the use which the Federalists would make of it, 

Congress, according to adjournment, reassem- 

Dee. 6. 

bled. Mr. Eppes was still continued chair- 
man of the Committee of Ways and Means. Among 
the first measures was the introduction of an embargo 
act. Madison, in a special message, strongly recom- 
mended it, on the ground that under the present 
non-importation act the enemy on our shores and at 
a distance were constantly furnished with the sup- 
plies they needed. An illegal traffic was also car- 
ried on with foreign ports, not only exporting for- 
bidden articles, but importing British manufactures. 
To stop this illicit trade in future, an act was passed 
in secret session, laying an embargo on all the ports 
of the Union. To j^revent evasion, it was guarded 
by the most stringent provisions and lieavy penal- 
ties, so that the coasting trade suffered severel}^ 
Fishermen were compelled to give bonds tliat they 
would not violate it, before they were allo^v: -1 to 
leave port. That portion of it, however, which 



328 SECOND WAR WITH FNGLAND. 

related to the importation of woolen, cotton, and spirits, 
was rejected by the House, as that prohibiting the re- 
lease of goods on bonds was rejected by the Senate. 

Soon after, a great excitement was cansed in the 
country by a rumor that a British schooner, the 
Bramble, had arrived in Annapolis, bearing flag 
of truce, and despatches of a peaceful nature to our 
government. Seven days after, the President 
transmitted a message to Congress, miormmg 
it of a proposition on the part of the English govern- 
ment, to have commissioners appointed to negotiate 
a peace. This announcement was the signal for the 
Federalist papers to indulge in laudations of Great 
Britain's generosity and magnanimity. She had 
taken the first amicable steps, and that, too, when 
she was in a condition, owing to Napoleon's sinking 
fortunes, to direct her entire power against us. The 
same vessel brought the news of the disasters of 
Leipsic. There was, on the other hand, much dis- 
trust among the Democrats, because the ofler of tho 
Russian mediation had been coldly rejected three 
several times. 

John Quincy Adams, and Henry Clay, and Jon- 
athan Russel and Bayard who were already abroad, 
were appointed Commissioners, to whom Gallatin was 
soon after added, to proceed to Gottenberg. Russel, 
after the negotiations closed, was to remain as min- 
ister to Sweden. Mr. Clay, in an eloquent address, 



329 

resigned his station as Speaker of the House, 

Jan. 19. ^ 

and Mr. Cheves was elected in liis place, 

One of the most exciting debates during this session 

of Congress arose on the introduction of reso- 

Dec, 

lutions by the editor of the Federal Republi- 
can, demanding an inquiry respecting a letter 
written by Turreau, in 1809, then Minister from 
France, to the Secretary of State, said to be with- 
drawn from the files. The disappearance of the 
letter was proof positive that its contents committed, 
in some way, the administration. A vehement 
debate of three days duration followed. Endless 
changes were rung on the old charge of French 
influence. At length the question was taken, and 
the resolutions voted down, and a simple call on the 
President for information substituted. This shell 
which had been so suddenly thrown into the House, 
threatening in its explosion to shatter the war party 
to fragments, proved a very harmless thing. Tur- 
reau, it eventually turned out, had written a letter 
of complaint to the Secretary of State, so overbear- 
ing in its tone, so absurd in its complaints, and so 
undiplomatic in every respect, that he was requested 
to withdraw it, which was done. In such a sensi- 
tive and excited state was party feeling at this time, 
that the most trivial matters became distorted and 
magnified into extraordinary proj^ortions. 

The army bill, providing for the filling of the ranks, 



330 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

the enlistment of men to serve for five years instead 
of twelve months, and the re-enlistment of those 
whose term of service had expired ; and another bill 
authorizing a new loan of $25,000,000, was the bugle 
blast summoning the combatants to battle. Mr. 
Webster was for the first time roused. The army 
bill was evidently designed to provide for a third 
campaign against Canada. From the first, almost 
the entire military force of the nation had been em- 
ployed in these futile invasions. The successive 
failures, especially the last, gave the opposition 
great vantage ground in declaring against the 
scheme altogether. They condemned it not only as 
an aggressive war, and therefore indefensible, but 
declared the acquisition of that country worse than 
worthless if obtained. The whole project was not 
only wrong in principle, but would be evil in its 
results, if successful. 

The clause extending the term of enlistment, 
and authorizing the raising of new regiments, mak- 
ing the money bounty $124: — fifty of it to be paid 
on an enrollment, fifty on mustering, and the remain- 
der at the close of the war, if living, and if not to go 
to his heirs, was assailed with vehement opposition. 
Mr. Webster, who had been cut short in an attack 
on the administration by the Speaker, on 
* the ground that no question was before 
the house, now rose to speak. Carefully avoiding 



331 

the asperity which distinguished his colleagues, he 

levelled all his force against the embargo act, and 

the conquest of Canada. The former he de- 

Jan. 10. 

nounced unjust and unequal in its bearing, 
and ruinous in its consequences. He called on the 
administration to remove it at once, as the first 
step towards the acquirement of a just position. He 
then denounced the Canadian war, to prosecute 
which this extraordinary bill was introduced, whose 
provisions if carried out would swell the regular 
army to sixty-six thousand troops, to say nothing of 
the power conferred on the President for calling out 
the militia for six months instead of three. Let us, 
he said, have only force enough on our frontier to 
protect it from invasion — let the slaughter of our 
yeomanry cease, and the fires along our northern 
boundary be extinguished. Already the war had 
cost nearly half as much as the entire struggle for 
independence; and said he, in conclusion, if war 
must be, " apply your revenue to the augmentation 
of your navy. Tliat navy, in turn, may protect your 
commerce. Let it no longer be said that not one 
ship of force built by your hands since the war, 
floats on the ocean. Turn the current of your eiforts 
into the channel which national sentiment has already 
worn broad and deep to receive it. A naval force 
competent to defend your coast against considerable 
armaments, to convoy your trade, and perhaps raise 



333 SECOND WAR WITH FNGLAND. 

the blockade of joiir rivers, is not a chimera. It 
may be realized. If, then, the war must continue, 
go to the ocean. If you are seriously contending for 
maritime rights, go to the theatre where alone those 
rights can be defended. Thither every indication of 
your fortune points you. There the united wishes 
and exertions of the nation will go with you. Even 
our party divisions, acrimonious as they are, cease 
at the water's edge. They are lost in attachment to 
national character, on that element where that char- 
acter is made respectable. In protecting naval inte- 
rests by naval means, you will arm yourselves with 
the whole power of national sentiment, and may 
command the whole abundance of national resources. 
In time you may enable yourselves to redress inju- 
ries in the place where they may be offered, and if 
need be, to accompany your own flag throughout the 
world with the protection of your own cannon." 
This speech produced a marked impression on the 
house. Succeeding as it did, the resolutions of the 
Legislature of Massachusetts, refusing to compliment 
our naval commanders for their victories, on the 
ground that encouragement would be given to 
the war, it looked like a change in tliat quarter. 
The war was not denounced as it had ever been by 
the Federalist leaders — he quarrelled only with the 
mode of carrying it. on. ISTay, it implied that we 
had wrongs to redress at sea, and thither our force 



SKETCH OF WEBS FEE. 333 

should be directed. The policy proposed in this 
speech should doubtless have been adopted at the 
commencement of the war, and might have been 
wise as late as 1814, but Webster did not propose it 
for the purpose of having it acted upon. This fine 
peroration was simply a safety-valve to his patriot- 
ism. He dared not — he could not uphold the war, 
or put his shoulders to any measures designed to 
carry it on with vigor. He represented a State 
opposed to it in principle, not in mode. Still, the 
language he used was so different from the other 
leading Federalists, that the Democrats, on the 
whole, did not wish to complain. Webster at this 
time was but thirty-one years of aj,e, and little 
known except in his own vicinity. This speech, 
however, delivered with the fervor and eloquence 
which distinguished him, gave clear indications of 
his future greatness. Though a young man, he ex- 
hibited none of the excitement and eagerness of youth. 
Calm, composed, he uttered his thoughts in those 
ponderous sentences which ever after characterized 
his public addresses. Large, well made, his jet black 
hair parted from a forehead that lay like a marble 
slab above the deep and cavernous eyes ; there was 
a solemnity, and at times almost a gloom in that extra- 
ordinary face, that awakened the interest of the be- 
holder. There was power in his very glance, and 
the close compressed lip revealed a stern and un- 



SB 4 SECOm) WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

yielding character. Even at tins age lie looked like 
one apart from his fellows, with inward communings 
to which no one was admitted. When excited in 
debate, that sombre and solemn face absolutely 
blazed with fire, and his voice, which before had 
sounded sharp and unpleasant, rung like a clarion 
through the house. His sentences fell with the 
weight of Thor's hammer — indeed, every thing 
about him was Titanic,' giving irresistible weight to 
his arguments. 

The bill having passed the house, the other author- 
izing a loan of $25,000,000 and a reissue of treasury 
notes to the amount of $10,000,000, came up. The 
expenditures for the coming year were estimated at 
$45,000,000, to meet which the ordinary means of 
revenue were wholly insufficient. A violent and 
bitter debate arose on its presentation, which lasted 
three weeks. Regarded as so much money appro- 
priated to the conquest of Canada, it met with the 
determined hostility of the opponents of the war. 
Mr. Eppes defended his bill, and went into a long 
and statistical account of the revenue and ex- 
penditures of the nation — showed how she could 
easily, in time of peace, pay off every dollar she 
might owe — estimated the value of the land and pro- 
duce and capital of the country, and proved, as he 
deemed satisfactorily, that the loan combined '' all 
the advantages of saf'ty, profit, and a command at 



piCKERmG. 335 

will of the capital invested." The long debate upon 
it had little to do with the bill itself, but swept the 
whole range of politics for the last four or five years. 
The history of the war was gone over — orders in 
council, and Berlin and Milan decrees revived with 
fresh vigor — the influence of Bonaparte in our coun- 
cils, though now struggling for life, was charged 
anew on the administration. Personalities were 
indulged in, and the most absurd accusations made by 
men, who on other subjects, exhibited sound judg- 
ment and able statesmanship. Mr. Pitkin spoke a 
part of two days, making a frightful exhibit of ex- 
penses, and denounced the war in Canada. Picker- 
ing, with his large, powerful frame and Roman fea- 
tures, not belying the fearless character of the man, 
came down on the administration with all the power, 
backed by the most unquenchable hatred he was 
master of. A distinguished man in the Revolu- 
tion, he had from that time occupied a prominent 
place in the political history of his country. A 
'' Pharisee of the Pharisees" in the Essex Junto, he 
cherished all the intense hatred of that branch of 
the Federalists for the war and its supporters. Built 
on a grand scale, yet with a heart hard as iron 
towards a foe, tierce and bold, denouncing his old 
friend and patron, John Adams, because he did not 
hate France as cordially as he thought every good 
Christian should, having no sympathy with Wash- 



336 SECOND WAR WITH PJNGLAND. 

ingtoii's quiet and non-committal character, he looked 
upon Bonaparte and our war and its supporters, as 
the most monstrous births of the age. His indigna- 
tion at their existence was only exceeded bj his 
wonder that heaven, in its just wratii, did not quench 
all together. Probably the administration had not 
such a sincere and honest hater in the whole Fed- 
eralist ranks. He was an honest man and possess- 
ed of most noble traits, but his feelings obscured his 
judgment when speaking of the war, and he gave 
utterance to the most extraordinary and absurd asser- 
tions. In this speech he wandered over the whole 
field — took bold and decided ground — advocated 
openly the doctrine of the right of search, as defend- 
ed by our enemy — declared that our complaints were 
unjust^denied the statement respecting the number 
of impressed seamen, saying that many Americans 
served voluntarily on board of British cruisers — glori- 
fied England for her efforts to overthrow JS'apoleon, 
calling her the '^ world's last hope." Having thus 
defined his position so clearly, that there could be no 
doubt where he stood, he turned to the Speaker 
and looking him sternly in the face through his 
spectacles, and '' swinging his long arm aloft," 
exclaimed, " I stand on a rocli from which all De- 
mocracy — no, not all Democracy and hell to hoot can 
move me — the rock of integrity and truth." Mr. 
Shelby and Mr. Miller followed in a similar strain, 



SPEECH OF FOKSYTH. 337 

and Ciinada, with its disastrous campaigns, was 
flung so incessantly in the face of the war party, that 
it hated the very name. Grundy defended the bill, 
and Gaston, of J^orth Carolina, opposed it. Grosve- 
nor launched forth into a violent harangue, and was 
so personal and unparliamentary in his language 
that he was often called to order. Yery little, how- 
ever, was said on the merits of the bill. This served 
only to open the flood-gates of eloquence, which em- 
bracing every topic of the past and present, deluged 
for twenty days the floor of Congress. Langdon 
Cheves, the Speaker, though opposed to the restrictive 
measures of the administration, upheld the war, and 
defended the bill in a long and temperate speech. 
One of the best speeches elicited by it, was made by 
John Forsyth. Hitherto he had taken but little part 
in the debates of the House, and hence his brilliant 
effort took the members by surprise and arrested 
their attention. Handsome, graceful, fluent, with a 
fine voice and captivating elocution, he came down 
on the Federalists with sudden and unexpected 
power. Their unfounded assertions, unpatriotic sen- 
timents and personal attacks had at length roused 
him, and as they had wandered from the question in 
their blind warfare, so he passed from it to repay 
the blows that had been so unsparingly given. 
Turning to the 'New England delegation, he charged 
boldly on Massachusetts the crime of fomenting 
15 



338 SECOND WAR WITR ENGLAND. 

treason to the State, if not intentionally, yet practi- 
cally, by her legislative acts, inflammatory resolu- 
tions and violent complaints of injustice, which were 
the first steps towards • more open hostility. " I 
mention them," said he, ^' not from fear, but to ex- 
press my profound contempt for their impotent mad- 
ness. Fear and interest hinder the factious spirits 
from executing their wishes. If a leader should be 
found bad and bold enough to try, one consolation 
for virtue is left, that those who raise the tem- 
pest will be the first victims of its fury." Calhoun, 
with his clear logic, demolished the objections that 
had been raised. He said they could all be reduced 
to two. One was, that the loan could not be had — ■ 
the other, that the war was inexpedient. He de- 
clared both false, going over the ground he had been 
comj)elled so often to traverse since the commence- 
ment of the war. He took up the question of ijn- 
pressment — declared our war a defensive one — bore 
hard upon those who voted against supplies — showed 
that the war had liberated us from that slavish fear 
of England which had rested like a nightmare on the 
nation — and started into vigorous growth home man- 
ufactures, destined in the end to render us indepen- 
dent of foreign products, and furnishing us with am- 
pler means to carry on any war that might occur in 
the future. 

This debate might have lasted much longer but for 



ARTEMUS WARD. 339 

a violent harangue of Grosvenor, full of gross per- 
sonalities, discreditable to himself and insulting to 
the House. It was resolved to put an end to such 
disgraceful scenes, and the previous question was 
moved and carried by a majority of forty. A similar 
fierce conflict, however, took place soon after on the 
bill for the support of military establishments, in 
the ensuing year, and on the motion to repeal the 
Embargo Act. In a speech against the former, 
Artemus Ward o^Dposed not only the invasion of 
Canada, and reiterated the old charge of subserviency 
to France, but openlj^ and boldly defended England 
in the course she had taken ; declared that impress- 
ment was in accordance with the law of nations, and 
that the doctrine "the flag protects all that sails 
under it " was untenable and false. He then went 
gravely into the reasons of the war, and laid down 
the following propositions, which he proceeded 
soberly to defend : — 

" 1st. I^apoleon had an ascendancy in our councils 
through the fear or hopes he inspired. 

"2d. The administration wished to destroy com- 
merce, and make an agricultural and manufacturing 
people. 

" 3d. It wished to change the form of our govern- 
ment." 

These extraordinary propositions were severally 
defended, and declared by himself fully proved. In 



340 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

reply to the charge that the Federalists were nulli- 
fiers, he pronounced it unjust and unfounded, and 
said that the Federalists of Massachusetts would 
" cling to the Union as the rock of their salvation, 
and will die in defence of it, jpromded they have 
an equality of henefits. But everything has its 
' hitherto.' There is a point heyond which submis- 
sion is a Grime. God grant that we may never 
arrive at that point." Such language, though 
guarded, was significant, and justified the very charges 
it was designed to rebut. Cou]3led with the action 
of Massachusetts, it furnished ground for the gravest 
fears. A motion having been introduced during the 
session to the effect that the Attorney-General 

Jan. 6. '' 

of the United States should prosecute Go- 
vernor Chittenden, of Yermont, for recalling the 
militia of the state from Burlington, Otis presented 
a resolution to the Massachusetts Senate, de- 
daring that the State was prepared to sustain, 
with her whole power, the Governor of Yermont in 
support of his constitutional rights. In the mean 
time the Legislature voted an address, denouncing the 
war altogether, ascribing it to hatred of the friends 
of "Washington's policy, to the influence of foreigners, 
to envy and jealousy of the growing commercial 
states, and desire for more territory. The Pennsyl- 
vania Legislature, on the othor hand, censured the 
conduct of both Chittenden and the Massachusetts 



PARTY SPIRIT. 341 

Legislature, declaring that the State would support 

the General Government in meting out justice to all 

violators of the Constitution. 'New Jersey was still 

more enraored, and after srivins: utterance to 

Feb. 13. ° ' to & 

her contempt and abhorrence of the " ravings 
of an infuriated faction, whether issuing from a legis- 
lative body, a maniac governor, or discontented and 
ambitious demagogues, " Eesolved, that the State was 
ready to resist internal insurrection with the same 
readiness as the invasion of a foreign foe." Thus 
the storm of political hate raged both within and 
without the halls of Congress, threatening in its fury 
to send the waves of civil strife over the already dis- 
tracted and suffering land. But there was a large 
party, composed of the middling classes of !N"ew Eng- 
land, in favor of the war. This, together with the 
outward pressure of the entire Union, combined to 
make the Federalist leaders extremely cautious in 
their movements. The farmer was benefitted by the 
war, for his produce commanded a higher price in the 
market, while the manufacturing interests, which the 
restrictive acts had forced into importance, were also 
advanced, thus creating a new antagonist to the 
Federalists. The embargo, however, pressed heavily 
on a large portion of the country, calling forth loud 
denunciations and petitions from the whole N'ew 
England coast. 

Fortunately for the administration, circumstances 



342 SECOND WAE WITH ENGLAND. 

soon rendered it useless. After struggling with 
almost superhuman courage and endurance to repel 
the allies from the soil of France, Napoleon saw 
them at last enter Paris in triumph, and demolish 
with a blow the splendid structure he had reared 
with so much skill and labor. With the overthrow 
of the French Empire ended the Continental "War, 
and of course the Orders in Council, the Berlin and 
Milan Decrees fell at once to the ground. The grand 
cause of the restrictive system having been removed, 
Madison sent a message to the House of Kepresenta- 
tives, advising a repeal of the Embargo and 'Non- 
Importation Act. A bill to this effect was reported 
by Mr. Calhoun from the Committee on Foreign 
^ Eelations. He spoke at some leno-th on the 

Apr. 4. ^ ° 

first section, embracing the embargo, sup- 
ported it on the ground of the recent changes in 
Europe, resulting from Bonaparte's downfall. Eussia, 
Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Prussia, and Spain, 
might now be considered neutral nations, and by 
opening our commerce to them, we should in time, 
in all probability, attach them to us in common hosti- 
lity to England, should she continue her maritime 
usurpations. This country had from the first con- 
tended for free trade, and consistency required we 
should allow it to neutral powers, just as we had 
claimed it for ourselves. In short, there was no 
reason for its continuance, except the plea of con- 



CALHOUN AND WEBSTER. 343 

sistencj. But he contended that a change of policy 
growing out of a change in the circumstances that 
had originated it, could not be called inconsistent. 
Mr. Webster replied to him, saying that he rejoiced 
it had fallen to his lot to be present at the funeral 
obsequies of the restrictive system. He felt a tem- 
perate exultation that this system, so injurious to the 
country and powerless in its effect on foreign nations, 
was about to be consigned to the tomb of the Capu- 
lets. After ridiculing the whole restrictive system, 
saying it was of like faith, to be acted — not deliber- 
ated on, and that no saint in the calendar had been 
more blindly followed than it had been by its 
friends, he went on to show that it was designed, 
originally, to co-operate with France. He denounced 
any system, the continuance of which depended on 
the condition of things in Europe. Such policy was 
dangerous, exposing us to all the fluctuations and 
changes that occurred there. If this universal appli- 
cation of a principle was unsound and extraordinary 
in a statesman, what followed was still more surpris- 
ing. Speaking of the effect of the system to stimulate 
manufactories, he said he wished none reared in a 
hot-bed. Those compatible with the interests of the 
country should be fostered, but he wished to see no 
Sheffield or Birmingham in this country. He des- 
canted largely on the evils of extensive manufactories 
and populous towns, and intimated strongly that any 



344 SECOND WAK WITH ENGLAND. 

protective legislation in reference to tliem would be 
unwise. What complete summersets those two great 
men, Webster and Calhoun, and the sections of 
country they represented, have made since 1814. 
Then South Carolina firmly supported the union 
against the doctrine of state rights, and Calhoun 
reasoned eloquently for manufactories, against Web- 
ster, opposed to them. Years passed by, and 
Massachusetts, through her Webster, pleaded nobly, 
sublimely, for the union, against the nullifying 
doctrines of South Carolina, and those two meu. 
standing on the floor of Congress, fought for the 
systems they had formerly opposed, and in fierce 
and close combat crossed swords each for the cause 
of the other. Webster in 1814 condemnino: mea- 
sures that forced manufactories into existence, and 
afterwards pleading earnestly for a high tariff, and 
Calhoun at the same time defending even the 
embargo on the ground that it encouraged them, and 
afterwards fighting sternly against that tariff, are 
striking illustrations of the changes and fluctuations 
of political life. And yet there may be no incon- 
sistency in all this. " Tempora mutantut^ et nos 
mutamur in illis^'^ is a sound maxim. Webster, 
when he charged inconsistency on the administration 
for advising the repeal of the embargo act, after the 
great change in European affairs, little thought how 
soon he would be compelled to shelter himself behind 



OUR MILITARY FORCE. 345 

this Latin maxim. In 1814 the interests of New 
England were closely allied with free commerce, and 
her destiny pointed towards the sea. In a few years her 
capital was largely invested in manufactures, and 
could the tariff have been made a permanent policy, 
all her crystal streams and dashing torrents hurrying 
from the mountains to the sea, would have been 
mines of almost exhaustless wealth. The times 
being changed, the dictates of true wisdom required 
a change of policy. There is no inconsistency so 
glaring and injurious as a stubborn adherence to old 
dogmas or systems, when events in their progress 
have exploded both. 

Added to the acts of Congress already mentioned, 
the most important were those making appropriations 
for the support of the navy — for the building and 
equipment of floating batteries for the defence of the 
harbors and rivers of our country. The Yazoo claim 
was also disposed of during this session. After an 
ineffectual attempt to introduce a bill for the establish- 
ment of a national bank, and the transaction of some 
minor business. Congress adjourned to 

April 18, 1814, ,, , , -nr T > r^ i. i 

the last Monday m October. 
Our naval force in service in January of this year, 
independent of the lake squadrons, gun-boats, etc., for 
harbor defences, was but seven frigates, seven sloops- 
of-war, four brigs, three schooners, and four other 
small vessels. The secretary, however, reported in 
15* 



346 SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

February three seventy-fours and three forty-fours on 
the stocks, besides smaller vessels, which would make 
thirty-three vessels, large and small, in actual service 
or soon to be afloat, while thirty-one were on the lakes. 
The army, by law, w^as increased at this session to 
64,Y59 men, while the militia of the union amounted 
to 719,M9 men. Added to this, the president was 
authorized to accept the service of volunteers to the 
number of 10,000, their term of service not to exceed 
one year. 

With such an imposing array of force on paper, 
with the increased revenue from the direct tax laid 
the year before, with a loan of $25,000,000, and 
treasury notes amounting to $10,000,000, the govern- 
ment prepared to enter on a third campaign. 



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LIFE OF OLIVER CROMWELL. By J. T. Headlet, 1 voL 12mo. cloth, gilt, 
with Portrait, $1 25. 6th Thousand. 

HEADLEY'S MISCELLANIES. Authorized Edition, 1 vol 12mo, cloth, $1. 2d 
Thousand. 

ADIRONDACK; OR LIFE IN THE WOODS. ByJ.T. Headlet, with Origl. 
nal Designs irom Qignoux, Ingham, Durand, etc., 1 voL 12mo. cloth, $1 25. 4th Thou- 
sand. 

SKETCHES AND RAMBLES. ByJ.T. Headlet, 1 vol. 12mo. cloth, T5c. 2d 

Thousand- 

THE IMPERIAL GUARD OF NAPOLEON. From Marengo to Waterloo. By 
J . T. Headlet, 1 vol. 12mo. with Illustrations, cloth, $1 25. Just Published. 

J. T. HEADLEY'S WORKS— Uniform Edition, 12 vols., in sheep, for Libraries and 

District Schools. 

•*Mr. Headley's peculiarities as an author are universally known. He is one of tha 
most vigorous and spirit-stirring w^'ters of the day, especially graphic and powerful in 
narratives of exciting events. No one can fail to get from his descriptions most graphic, 
vivid, and lasting impressions of the scenes of which he speaks."*— A''. T. Courier and 
Knquirer. 

♦' His descriptions are graphic, his history correct, and his summing up character scatoely 
Buffers by a comparison with similar pages in Tacitus." — N. Y. Evening Post. 

" He speaks heartily, earnestly, truthfully ; and the warm heart answers to his voice.*— 
V". Y. Observer. 

" Each one of his Biographies is a grand historical picture, conveying in a most impres- 
sive way, a true idea of the events of the time." — Cincinnati Herald. 

" Mr. Headley is truly eloquent in his description of character. Ho presents to yop th« 
strong points of the man with a clearness that seems to place him before you as an old 
acquaintance." — Cleveland JTeraZd 

Whatever critics may choose to say, Mr. H. will never lack readers. The stir and fire 
Of his descriptions will touch a popular chord. In describing the battle field and the 
tumultuous stirring life of the camp, Mr, H. is what Cooper was upon the Sea.— ^ 7 
Eoangdiii, 



BRACE'S HUNGARY IN 1851: With an Experience of the Austrian Police. By 
Chaeles Loeing Bbaoe. (Beautifully illustrated, with a map of Hungary). 

" Upon the particular field of Hungary, this is by far the most complete and reliable 
w^ork in the language ; a work that all should read who would understand the institutions, 
the cbaraGter, and the spirit of a people who just now have so urgent a claim on our sym^ 
pathy."— JVT Y. Independent. 

" There is probably not a work within the reach of the English scholar that can afford 
him such a satisfactory view of Hungary as it now is, as this work of Mr. Brace."— (7Ari«- 
tian InteUigencer. 

" It will not disappoint public expectation. It bears the strongest evidence of being 
most reliable in its descriptions and facts." — Boston Journal. 

" We have seldom taken in hand a book which bears the reader along with an interest 
so intense and sustained." — Watchman a/nd Reflector. 

" It is a graphic picture of the people and institutions of Hungary a,t the present moment 
by one who writes what he saw and heard, and who was well qualified co judge." — Troy 
Daily Post. 

" He mingled much in the social life of every class of the Hungarian people, and there 
can be no question that he has presented a faithful picture of the condition, manners, cus- 
toms, and feelings of the Magyars."— Porf^aTicZ Transcript. 

"The best and most reliable work that we possess, in regard to Hungary as it now 1b, 
and the only one written from personal observation." — Phil. Evening Bulletin. 

" It tells us precisely what the mass of readers wish to know in regard to the condition 
of Hungary since the Revolution. Having travelled over large portions of the country on 
foot, and mingling freely with the inhabitants in their houses, the author relates his various 
experiences, many of which are sufficiently strange to figure in a romance." — N. Y. Tri 
TjiJi/ne. 

" This book is exceedingly entertaining. These are clear, nnnmbitious narratives, sound 
views, and abundant information. We get a perspicuous view of the people, life, and 
character of the country, and learn more of the real condition of things than we could e 
where obtain."— .AT. Y. Ecangelist. 

"Its narrative is fluent and gi-aceful, and gives the most vivid and complete, and tho ' 
most fciithful picture of Hungary ever presented to American readers."— (7owr»er and 
Inquirer. 

"For graphic delineation, and extent of knowledge of the subject described, Mr. Brace 
has no equal, at least in print."— 7%<3 Columbian and Far West. 

"We have read it carefully, and have no hesitation in saying that it presents a complete 
idea of Hungary and her people as they were and are. I.ir. Brace has the happy and rare 
faculty of making the reader see what he saw, and feel what he felt."— The Eclectic. 

"He has succeeded in gathering the fullest and most satisfactory amount of information 
in regard to Hungary that we have seen. His descripUon of the Hungarian Church and 
the religions character of the people are especially interesting, nnd the whole volume is a 
valuable addition to our knowledge of the interior of Europe."— Watchinan and Gb- 
Herver. 

"This excellent work is not one of proesy details and dry statistics, but is composed of 
the most familiar and intimate glimpses of Hungarian life, written in the most gracefkil 
stylo."— Worcester Si>y 



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